The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-03-12

was confronted by dark iron-gray man-in
drcss, features. speech and action-uncom-
promisingy opposed TO Cnss-his ring and his
romance. When the young man had told his
story and produced his treasure he paused
Tho banker scarcely glanced at it, but said Inn
patiently:
"Wcl-your papcrsT'
My papers p
Yes. Proof of your identity You say your
name is Cass Beard. Good What have you
got tn prove IL? How can toll who you are -
To sensitive man there is no form OF sus-
pirion that is a. bcwdrring and dcmornlizing
nj tho moment ~ the question Of his identity.
Cass felt the insult in the doubt Of his word
and the pnlpablc scnsr Of his present inability
to prove it. The banker watched him krcnly
but not unkindy
Come" he said ut length. this is not my nf-
fair; If YOU can legally satisfy the lady for
whom am only agent, we'll and good. / be-
lieVc You can; l only warn you that you must.
And ms present inquiry was to keep hor from
losing her tin,o with impostors-iI class don't
think YOU belong to. There's her card. Good
duy."
Miss Mortimer" 1t WIS not tho bankers
daughter I'll" first Illusion Of Blazing star
was ruioly disrclcd. But tho care taken 10y
the capitalist to shjnld her from impostur" in
dicatcd II person Of wealth. OF her youth and
beauty Cn-s no longer thought.
The address given was not distant. With n
beating heart he rung the boil Of n rcsrcctahle-
| looking nuuS" aud was ushored into II private
drawing room lnstinctivcy he felt that the
! room was only temporarily inhabitcd-an mir
peculiar to the best lodsings-and when the
door opened upon tall lady in deep mourning
| he was -till moro convinced Of an incongruity
| between the occupant and her surroundings
! With smile that vacllltod between n habit Of
| familiarity and ease. and n recent restraint
she uotioned him to chair.
Miss Mortimer" was still young. still hand
| some still fashonaby dressed and still at
! tractivc From her first greeting TO the end Of
! the interview Cuss felt that she knew all about
him This relieved him from the onus OF PROV
| ing hs identity. bu; seemed to put him vaguely
at IL Disadvantage. II increased his sense OF
! m"Nperience and youthfulnoss.
| Il hope you Will believe she began, that
! the few questions have to ask you are to
I satisfy my own heart. and for no other pur-
pose" She smiled sadly ~ she went on. Had
it been otherwise. l should have instituted u
| legal inquiry, and left this interview to some
one cooler. calIncr. and less Interested than
| myself. But think-I k1o'r-I can trust you.
| Perhaps We women are weak and foolish to
talk Of an instinct and when you know my story
| you may have reason to believe that but little
dependence can he placed on that; but | am not
wrong in sayin.-am l?' with u sad smilcl
" that Vou are not above that Weakness She
paused. closed her lips tightly, and grasped
! her hands before her. You say you found
that ring in the road some three months he
| fore-the-the-you know what l m"an--the
| bOdy-waS discovcrOdT'
| Yes"
You thought it might have been dropped by
| some one in rassingi'
| Il thought so. yes-it belonged to no onc in
camp
Before your cabin or on the highway"
| Before my cabin
| You are sure" There was something 80
very sweet and sad in her smile that il oddly
made GAGS color.
But my cabin is near the road he suggested
Il see And there was nothing else no paper
nor cnvelope?"
| Nothing"
And you kept it because of the odd rcsem-
bance one of the names bore to yours p
Yes"
For no other reason ~
None" Yet Cass felt he was bushiug.
You'll forgive my repeating a question you
have already answered. but ! am so anxious
There was some attempt to prove ut the inquest
| that the ring had been found on the body Of
the unfortunate man. But you tell me 1t was
| not so"
Il can swear It,"
Good God-thc traitor" She took hurried
step forward. turned 10 the window and then
came back IN Cass with voice broken with
emotion. Il have told you | could trust you
That ring was mineN'
She stopped and then went on hurriedy
! Years ago gave it to n man who deceived and
wronGed me: man whose life since then has
been II shame and disgrace to all who knew him
A man who. once a gentleman sank so low as
to become the associate Of thieves and ruftlaus
sank so low. that when he died by violencc-a
traitor even to thcm-his own confcdcratcs
shrunk from him. and left him 10 Al name
less grave That Nuns body you found"
Cass started And his name was -"
! Part of your surname Cass--Henry Cas- "
! You see why Providence seems to have
| brought that ring 10 yo'l." She went on. " But
YOU ask mo why knowing this. / am so eager
! to know il the ring was found by YOU in tho
road, or il it. Were found ON his body. Listen
it is part of my notification that the story goes
that this man once showed this ring, boosted Of
it, staked, and lost it at a gambling tablo 10 one
! Of his vile comrades
"Kanaka Joe, said Cass overcome by vivid
| recollection OF joss merrmcnt AT the trial
lS Stlilt. ION you sec, Sl' Sll'l, mar
riedly. II tho ring had been found on him !
could believe that somewhere in his heart he
still kept respect for the woman he had wrongrd.
| am a woman-a foolish woman. | know-hut
| You have crushed that hope forever
But why have you sent for me ?" asked
| Cas-, touched by her emotion.
To know II for certain" she said almost
| horrely. Can you not understand that a
woman like me must know a thing once aud
forever? But you can help me, did not send
for YOU only to pour my wrongs in your ears.
You must take me with you to this pace-to
tho spot where you found the ring-to the spot
whore you found the body-to the spot whore
where hs lies. You must do it secretly that
none shall know me-
Cass hcsitatcd II" was thinking Of his conf
panons and the collapse OF their painted bub-
! bic. How could he keep the secret from them ?
=" II it IL money you need, let not that stop
! you. | have no right to your time without rec
| Ompcnse. Do not misunderstood mo, There
has been thousand dollars awaiting my order
| at Book ham when the ring should be dcliy-