Page:The Wreck of a World - Grove - 1890.djvu/85

Rh formed a cul-de-sac, where he stopped before a small but neat looking house marked "No. 16." The door was open; he entered. As he passed through room after room he seemed overcome with emotion. At last he went into one where he found a young woman's hat and gloves, the sight of which caused him to burst into tears.

"They are hers," he sobbed. "Forgive me, Sir, for not at once believing your story. I see now that it is only too true. For all these months I have looked forward to my return and to our meeting, and to think it should be like this!" and the poor fellow sobbed afresh.

He took the gloves, placed them in his breast and softly we left the room. As we returned to the wharf he told me the whole story. He had been engaged to be married, nay the date was fixed, when he was suddenly offered the position of First Lieutenant on board the "Roanoke," and after much hesitation the marriage was postponed till his return. His grief and disappointment were extreme, and it was with a view to alleviating them that I told him of the grievous loss to William Gell and myself of our beloved Aurelia,