One night a servant of one of the neighbors stopped
Martha on the road and sent her flying home; not
angry, but terrified.

"They're beginnin' to talk," she broke out savagely,
as she entered Jane's room, her breath almost
gone from her run to the house. "I laughed at it
and said they dare not one of 'em say it to your
face or mine, but they're beginnin' to talk."

"Is it about Barton Holt? have they heard anything
from him?" asked Jane. The fear of his
return had always haunted her.

"No, and they won't. He'll never come back here
ag'in. The captain would kill him."

"It isn't about Lucy, then, is it?" cried Jane,
her color going.

Martha shook her head in answer to save her
breath.

"Who, then?" cried Jane, nervously. "Not
Archie?"

"Yes, Archie and you."

"What do they say?" asked Jane, her voice fallen