New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-02-08
TIVE DIAMOND CRESCENT,

Ihe day was bitter cold, and the
crowds hurrying along Broadway
turned neither to right nor to left in
Their haste to reach home and the
comforts OF the fireside.
Twas sitting on the ground floor in my
Office watching the restless people
and philosophizing as have a habit
OF doing upon the differences in hui
man condition, when my attention
was suddenly arrested by O. child
wearing upon her breast a superb dia-
mond crescent Of purest water and
orllliancy. Before I had time to for
fnulate any opinion as to how so
magnificent jewel could have come
INTO the possession of a child, or to
wonder how its parents or guardians
permitted it to wear such a valuable
trinket upon the public streets, an Of
ficer had the little one in his grasp.
Looking at it nationally, nothing
would have seemed more probable
chan that the child was theft, for I
did not fail to notice in my first
glance that her garments. although
scrupu'ously neat, were far from ex-
penslVe, nevertheless an unaccount-
able excitement took possession of
me, and rushed to her assistance,
demanding Of the officer authorita-
lively. Upon what charge do you
make this arrest?'
Instinctively recognizing a. frienl, the
terrified child besought me not to al
low the officer to take her to jail.
"Look at that pin, the little thief"
She officer said roughly. making g.
movement to drag the child away.
''StopF' l commanded, INDIGNANTLY
now, for I had made up my mind
that the child should at least have a.
hearing. 'Who says she is a thief?"
81 say So" returned the officer
sharply. II know 'en. these street
gamins, and precious lot they are!
She's a regular one, this one is"
Indeed, sir, am not thief! Oh,
am not, am not! Ididn't mean to
do wrong. | wanted to find my own
papa that Miss Adele says the cres-
cent will surely find"
The officer laughed coarsely. '"That
is fine, isn't it? Highly dramatic for
one so young. You see I know 'em;
they come in all ages from"
"0fficer," I interrupted him; for a
crowd was gathering now despite the
biting cold, and l did not much en-
Joy my position as one of the central
figures, ''step with me into my Office
while we hear the little ones story. I
SIM convinced that you have no more
right to arrest this child because she
ing quietly along the public street,
'6han you would have to arrest the
wife or daughter of a millionaire un-
der like circumstances. You know
who am, and if the facts do not cor
Toborate the story this child tells I
promise to deliver her over to you in
Che next few hours"
"All right" said the officer, ''take
her, you'll be wiser in the next TWEEN
ty-four hours, I'll wager"
And so l was but not just as the
officer anticipated. The child told ne
O. singular story between her sobs,
and facts proved it strictly true. In
deed, as / had the little one in my
>Jthce before the fire, warm and COM
Portable except for the effects of her
fright, had time to see that her fea-
lures and expression were those OF q
young princess of the blood, clear-cut
exquisite and truthful. She was as far
removed from the youthful unfortu-
mates brought up in vice and CRIME as
Is heaven from earth.
The gist Of her story was that she
was q great mans daughter, and the
only way she could ever find her papa
was by the crescent, which he would
recognize. She lived with Miss Adele
q music teacher, and they had very
little money. 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 I put
che crescent on, and came to find pa
pa, for | knew that if he saw that he
would buy us some more wood and
COAL" the child conhded to me earn
,estiy.
hailed g. cab at the conclusion of
the tale and took the child to the
street and number given me. A tell
graceful woman of twenty-five or
Ghereabout welcomed her with emo
Gion.
''Why, my dear Eva," she cried,
clasping the child to her, "where have
you been? have been almost crazy
with anxiety about you"
But just at this moment Miss Adele
caught sight of me and drawing her
self up with dignity she waited for an
explanation OF my presence there.
Stating the case briefly I asked her to
tell me something about the child.
II will, sir" she said, motioning me
to be seated, with grace | have rarely
seen equalled. "The sole GUARDIAN
ship of little Eva fell to me strange
Ky" she began. II am the daughter
Of g. clergyman, and while teaching
music in my native village in the West
it happened that one winters night
some eight years since-a night not
unlike what this promises to benny
father and were startled by means