"The young husband imposed silence until after he had attained his
majority. There was a vast fortune at stake. In plain words, his
father had forbidden the marriage. He had selected another one to
be the wife of his son.... Jane was born in the second year of their
wedded life. It was, of course, important that the fact should be
kept secret. I am inclosing a slip of paper containing the names
of the minister, the doctor and the nurse who afterwards attended
her, together with the record of death. It is more convenient to
handle than this bulky letter--which I trust you will destroy. You
will also find the name of the hospital in which Jane was born and
where her mother died, ten days later. I may say, in this connection,
that not one of the persons mentioned knew the true name of the
young mother, nor were they sure of the fact that she was a wife.
Her gravestone in the old cemetery bears the name of the maiden,
not the wife. Her father never knew the truth....

"What I did in the premises need not be told. That is a part of
my past. I learned how the cowardly young father, glad to be out
of the affair so easily, hired the nurse to leave the baby on the
doorstep. Then I went to the banker whose son he was. I had absolute
proof of the marriage. He paid me well to keep the true story from
reaching the public. The son was whisked abroad and he afterwards
married the girl of his father's choice. I do not believe that he
has ever given a thought to the whereabouts or welfare of his child.
It was her heritage of caste!

"If Jane cares to claim her rights as this man's lawful daughter,
proof is ample and undeniable. I fancy, however, she will find
greater joy as the daughter of David Cable. Her own father has less
of a heart than yours, for, after all, my son, I love you because