It was just as he turned that poignant chance brought him face to face with a girl in deep new mourning with the border of white crepe in the brim of her close hat.

Her eyes were red and half-closed with recent crying and she had a piteous face.

He knew what it all meant and involuntarily raised his hand in salute.

He scarcely knew he did it and for a second she seemed not to understand.

But the next second she burst out crying and hurriedly took out her handkerchief and hid her face as she passed.