The Monroe journal., 1921-08-05


rival in Bingville. Sophronia tMrs.
Peuiletunl Ames called. Saphraia
was the oldest ami dearest friend that
Mamie Ring had III the village, The
latter enjoyed her life ia New York,
but she felt always a thrill al coming
back 10 her big garden and the green
trees and the ample spaces of Bing-
Vile. and 10 the ready. sympathetic
confidence OF S0phronia Ames She
told SOphssnia Of brilliant scenes in
the changing spectacle of metropolitan
life. NJ the wonderful young man and
the untimely affection, Of Phyllis. now
happily past. Then. in a whisper.
while Sophronia held up her right
hand as a pledge Il secrecy. she told
OF the necklace OF which the lucky
girl had no knowledge. Now, Mrs.
Ames was one df the best NJ women.
People were wont 10 speak OF her. and
rightly. aS the salt OF the earth" She
would 10 ANYTHING possible for a
friend But Mamie Bins had asked too
much. Moreover. always il had been
understood between them that these
half-playful oaths were not 10 be taken
too seriously. OF course, 'the fish had
TO be fed" as judge Crooker had once
put H. BY "the fish," he meant that
curious under-life OF the yillage-the
voracious, silent, merciless, cold
blooded thing which fed ON the sins
and follies of men and women and
which rarely came 10 the surface TO
bother anyone.
The fish are very wise" Judge
Croker used 10 say. They know the
truth about every one and It's well
that they do. After all. they perform
an important office. There's many a
man and woman who think they've
been fooling the fish, hut they've only
fooled themselves"
And within a day or two, the Sc
crets OF the Bing family We're swim
ming up and down the stream Of the
unier.life of Bingville.
Mr.. Bing h>l found a situation in
the plant which was new TO him. The
men were Disconnected. Their wages
were "sky high" TO quote phrase Of
one Of the foremen. Still, they were
not satisfied Reports of the fahu.
louS earnings of the min had spread
among them. They had begun 10
think that they were not getting Il
fair division Of the proceeds Of their
labor. AZ meeting Of the help rad.
zeal speaker had declared that one Of
the Blng women wore moose of pearls
on her 9ecs worth has Q mlll.2sl9 d?I
lars The men wanted more pay ana
less work. \ committee of their lead.
ers had called at Mr. Bing'S Office with
a demand soon after bis arrival Mr.
Ding had said mo" with a bang Of his
fist IN the table. A workers meeting
was 10 be held a week later to act upon
the report of the committee.
Meanwhile. another cause Of worry
had come or rather returned 10 him.
Again, Phyllis had begun to show
symptoms of the old trouble. Mrs.
Bing, arriving NJ dusk from a market
trip TO Hazelmead with Sophronla
.Ames. had found Phyllis lying asleep
among the cushions on the great
couch In the latter's bedroom She en-.
tered the room softly and leaned over
the girl and looked into her face, now
turned toward The open window and
lighted by the fading glow In the west.
ern sky and relaxed by sleep. II was
a sad face! There were lines and
shadows In II which the anxious moth
or had not seen before ana-hal she
been cryingi Very softly, the woman
sat down at the girls side. Darkness
fell, black. menacing shadows filled
the corners Of the room. The spirit of
the girl betrayed It's trouble In sor'
rowful groan rs she slept. Roger De.
lane was coming next day. There wa.
every reason why Phyllis should be
happy Silently, Mrs. Bing left the
room She met Martha In the hall.
81 shall want no dinner and Mr.. Bing
IL dining in Hazelmead." she whis.
pered. Miss Phyllis is asleep Don't
disturb her"
Then she sat down In the darkness
of her own bedroom alone.
Ito be continued.)