[The Tides of Barnegat by F. Hopkinson Smith]@TWC D-Link bookThe Tides of Barnegat CHAPTER VIII 1/17
AN ARRIVAL With the departure of Jane and Lucy the old homestead took on that desolate, abandoned look which comes to most homes when all the life and joyousness have gone from them.
Weeds grew in the roadway between the lilacs, dandelions flaunted themselves over the grass-plots; the shutters of the porch side of the house were closed, and the main gate always thrown wide day and night in ungoverned welcome, was seldom opened except to a few intimate friends of the old nurse. At first Pastor Dellenbaugh had been considerate enough to mount the long path to inquire for news of the travelers and to see how Martha was getting along, but after the receipt of the earlier letters from Jane telling of their safe arrival and their sojourn in a little village but a short distance out of Paris, convenient to the great city, even his visits ceased.
Captain Holt never darkened the door; nor did he ever willingly stop to talk to Martha when he met her on the road.
She felt the slight, and avoided him when she could.
This resulted in their seldom speaking to each other, and then only in the most casual way.
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