In summer,
over sidewalk and roadway alike rested a dense, refreshing dark
shadow that seemed to throw from itself an odour of coolness. This
was rendered further attractive by the warm spicy odour of damp pine
that arose from the resilient surface of sawdust and shingles broken
beneath the wheels of traffic. Back from these trees, in wide,
well-cultivated lawns, stood the better residences. They were
almost invariably built of many corners, with steep roofs meeting
each other at all angles, with wide and ornamented red chimneys,
numerous windows, and much scroll work adorning each apex and
cornice. The ridge poles bristled in fancy foot-high palisades of
wood. Chimneys were provided with lightning-rods. Occasionally an
older structure, on square lines, recorded the era of a more
dignified architecture. Everywhere ran broad sidewalks and picket
fences. Beyond the better residence districts were the board
shanties of the mill workers.
Orde and Newmark tramped up the plank walk to the farthest brick
building. When they came to a cross street, they had to descend to
it by a short flight of steps on one side, and ascend from it by a
corresponding flight on the other. At the hotel, Newmark seated
himself in a rocking-chair next the big window.
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