The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1916-09-14
- The -
Bell
And a Portrait That Went
Astray
By AMELIA Delaney

had named her IN childhood, was
that anomaly, a woman OF few
words. Her name was Belle, and
the nickname had clung to her ever
after her brother gave it to her, so
that she was known by young and
old as "Bell" Edwards. She did
not lack spirit nor temper, bSt sell
dom did she deem it necessary to
set forth either joys or woes at any
length in words.
But if the Belle was silent in
speech, she was eloquent of eye,
and those glorious orbs of hers had
won her many admirers. But of all
these only John Henry Allerton
found favor. These two young peo-
pie seemed to be attracted to each
other from their first meeting and
soon were constant companions.
After awhile they became engag-
ed, but even the power of love did
not seem to affect in the least
Bellies silent manner. Often little
misunderstanding between the lov-
ers would have been brushed aside
at once by a word or two from Belle,
but she kept her tongue still and let
time heal these tiny fractures IN
their otherwise uninterrupted court
ship, a courtship that was to end in
marriage just as soon as her devoted
lovers business prospects were suf-
ficiently bright.
The more surprised was Allerton
on the occasion of his great quarrel
with the Silent Bell when she stat
ed fully and fluently her reasons for
breaking their engagement. The
sum total of her conversation in all
their years of association did not
begin to equal in length her speech
at this time.
She touched each and every point
where they differed, and she even
dilated on details which he had not
considered of the least Importance
for instance, that of late years he
had not seemed to care enough for
her to present her with good pic
ture of himself.
She enlarged upon this bit of neg
ligence until she had impressed Al
lerton with its due monstroslty.
That she had not been presented
periodically. with photograph Of
her lover was nothing short of a
gross insult.
As her extraordinary burst of
anger reached a climax on this one
of his many flaws Allerton began to
grasp the idea that she had really
wanted his picture and that he had
been guilty of a most grave misdc-
meanor in not sending it to her.
But it was too late now, and the
honest but clumsy fellow, of course,
made matters worse by saying so.
They parted, each believing the 9TH
er to be a most unreasonable crea-
ture.
Soon after Allerton, very de-
spondent and bitterly disappointed,
went into business in distant state.
He had not been gone long when
the Silent Bells father died insol-
vent, and she went to her brother
Robert, who lived in another town.
There Belle, wishing to be inde-
pendent, procured a position in a
school. Her brother by virtue Of
being town clerk was also clerk Of
the board of education.
At the holiday vacation the prin-
cipal of the school resigned. So
great a confidence had Bellies work
won for her that the board of edu-
cation asked her to suggest some
one for the place. She named a
man of whose years and experience
she could assure them, and at their
request she wrote him asking him
to correspond with the school board
and to send his photograph.
Her brother Robert took the mail
from their box a few days after
ward and hurried to the board meet
ing. There was no letter from
Bellies candidate, but there was G
photo addressed to her. Robert
hastily cove The photograph 70 t
chairman of the board without even
opening the wrapper and hurried
away again to keep an appointment
with the mayor.
Bellies recommendation and the
fine looking face shown by the pic
ture satisfied the members. Being
anxious to act on the principalship
that evening, they looked at the
name and address on the back of
the picture and dispatched a letter
at once.