Summary

“Some Stories Are Not for Telling” began with an explanation of how Armstrong’s father gave him money for a farm at age 21. He chose the farm of Frederick May, Bess’s father. The men had mutual respect and Armstrong visited often. Bess was disabled from a childhood illness that rendered one leg shorter than the other, and she had a lazy eye. Her confident investment in her appearance made others’ uncomfortable, and she lost many friendships. The young men in the neighborhood disrespected Bess and raped her on multiple occasions. Armstrong asked for Bess’s hand in marriage and assured that he would love her unborn baby conceived from rape. They married and bore six children together.

Helena and Vaughan had reestablished their physical intimacy by the start of “Photographing Amelia.” Vaughan felt the girl...