Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-03-02
THE DIAMOND CRESCENT.

in their haste to reach home ana
the comforts of the tireside.
was sitting in my office on the
ground floor, watching the restless
people and philOsOphlzing, as l
have a habit of doing, upon the
differences Ia human condition,
when my attention was suddenly
arrested by child wearing upon
her breast a superb diamond cres'
cent of purest water and brllllancy'
Before | had time to formulate any
opinion as to how so magnificent a
level could have come into the pos
session of child, or to wonder why
its parents or guardians permitted
it TO wear such valuable trinket
upon the public streets, an officer
had the little one in his grasp.
Looking at it nationally, nothing
would have seemed more probable
than that the child was a thief, for
I did not fail to notice in my first
glance that her garments, although
scrupulously neat, were far from ex-
pensive, nevertheless an unaccount-
able excitement took possession or
me. and | rushed to her assistance,
demanding of the officer authorlta-
lively, "Upon what charge do you
make this arrest"
Instinctively recognizing a friend,
the terrified child besought me not
to allow the officer to take her to
Jail.
"Look at that pin, the little
thief" the officer said roughly
making a movement to drag the
child away.
"Stopm demanded, indignant
" now, for l had made up my mind
that the child should at least have
hearing. "Who says she is a
thief ~
81 say so," returned the officer
sharply. 81 know 'em, these street
gamins, and a precious lot they are!
She's a regular one, this one is"
"Indeed, sir, | am not a thief
Oh, am not, l am not l didn't
mean to do wrong. l wanted to
find my own papa, that Miss
Adele says the crescent will sure
ly find"
The officer laughed coarsely.-
"That is fine, isn't it? Highly dra-
matte for one so young. You see l
know 'em; they come in all ages
frOm'-
"OHdcerp | interrupted him, for
a crowd was gathering now, de-
spite the biting cold, and I did not
iasHeh enjoy my position as one of
., on Central figures, "step with me
into my office while we hear the
little ones story. l am convinced
that you have no moro right to ar
rest this child because she wears a
costly ornament when walking
quietly along the public street.
than you would have to arrest the
wife or daughter of a millionaire
under like circumstances. You
know who l am, and il the facts do
not corroborate the story this child
tells promise to deliver her over
t O you in the next few hOurs.'
GAN right" said the officer, "take
her; you'll be wiser in the next
twenty-fo hours, I'll wager"
And so was, but not just as the
officer anticipated. The child told
me a singular story between her
sobs, and facts proved 1T strictly
true. Indeed, as had the little
one in my Office before the fire,
warm and comfortable except tor
the effects of her fright, had time
to see that her features and express
sion we're those of a young princess
Of the blood, clear cut, exquisite
and truthful. She was as far re-
moved from the youthful untortu-
mates brought up in vice and crime
as is heaven from earth.
The gist of her story was that she
was a great mans daughter, and
the only way she would ever find
her papa was by the crescent,
which be would recognize. She
lived with Miss Adele, a music
teacher, and they had very little
mo ney. Miss Adele had cried that
morning because their coal was
nearly gone and she had no money
to buy more.
"When Adele had gone out
put the crescent on, and came to
nud papa, for knew that if he saw
that he would buy US some more
wood and COAL" the child cOndded
to me earnestly.
| hailed a cab at the conclusion
of the tale and took the child to
the street and number given m -
A tall, graceful woman Of % oil
thereabout, welcomed us with emo
tiOn.
"why, my dear Eva," she cried
claspIng the child to her, "whert
have you been, l have been almost
crazy with anxiety about you"
But just at this moment Miss
Adele caught sight Of me, and
drawing herself up with dignity
she waited for an explanation fol
my presence there. Stating the
case briefly ! asked her to tell me
something about the child.
"I will, SIR" she said, motiOninG
80 En- ha saatad with grace / have