Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-04-04
Story Of a Shield Pin.-

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n DO not like ai to take up personal na
tain class of work, so when Miss
ANGEL of Broadside street sent for me
to take up ''small personal mystery
responded with a poor grace.
Scarcely had she begun to tell hei
story, however. than l became SO in
terested that begged her to continue
and tell me the details as far as posi-
BILE.
Miss Angel was engaged to Mr..
Cloud-a peculiar combination of names
to begin with. and was devotedly at,
tached to him. In fact, she confessed
with tears in her eyes that his love was
more, or had been more, than life to
her
The rest Of the story 1 will let her
tell In her own words.
"Mr. Cloud" she said, ''is in the habit
Of calling on me almost every evening.
About a week ago he came to dinner.
invited by mamma. He was to attend
q supper of the Phoenix Club at 10
o'clock, and wore evening dress.
"At the table we noticed an exquisite
shield pin he wore. 1t shone so bril-
uantly that 1t caught the eye at once.
Mr.. Cloud took the pin off and it was
passed around the table for us all to
examine.
1T was a shield as large as quar-
ter with the outside edge bordered with
pure rubies, blood red, all of size and
without a flaw. The center of the
shield consisted of a large diamond
cut not very deep, yet too deep to be
sunken, so 1t was elevated In wire
setting. Around the diamonds were
perfectly matched black pearls. The
combination was so unusual that we
exclaimed as we handled the jewel and
I remarked that I had never seen il
before.
when we had finished examining II
Mr.. Cloud said: That is my Phoenix
club badge. 1t belongs to the president.
When was elected the badge was pre-
sented to me by the members and when
I resign, and a new president comes in,
I must give up the badge to him. 1t
10 the presidents badge, to be owned
by him during his term of office. OF
course, 1t Is only to be worn at the
meetings.
Mamma spoke of its great value.
Yes said Mr.. Cloud. 1T is indeed very
valuable 1t is worth thousands. If
I were to lose it should feel ruined,
rs I could never hope to replace it
"As he spoke Mr.. Clouds face be
came very serious. We once had
case Of that kind said he-'a most curl
Gus case. The president lost his badge
and committed suicide next day. You
see he was suspected of having sold 1T
After we had looked at the badge
and talked about 1t. l very foolishly
asked to wear it. and in a fit of way
wardness l reached across the table,
took 1t up and put it in the bow of rib.
bon at my throat.
"At the close Of the meal, Mr. Cloud
asked me for 1t, but 1, to tease him,
said l meant to keep it, and ran up
stairs with 1t on.
After they were seated in the parlOr
I stole quietly. down the stairs and
placed the pin In the lining of Mr..
Clouds overcoat, directly under the
lapel.
II went back up to my room ana
came down stairs again. 1 found
mamma and my sister seated alone in
the parlor Mr.. Cloud had gone out to
send a telegram. He would be back
In q minute.
"When he returned, which was after
half an hour. he came in for only a
minute, to say good-by, he said, and TO
ask for his pin: Come, Maize he said,
you have teased me long enough. Let
me have the pin now. l must go
"T gave 1t back to you,' l said, an 4
you have 1t now.
Then 1 stood up and running my
fingers along the lapel of his coat felt
for the pin. 1t was gone!
Il turned as white as snow and as
felt the color leaving my face, said:
I gave 1t back
my mother looked up surprised and
MI Cloud stared at me. Yes, / gave
it back. | put it on your coat. You
must have it
why, Mazie,' said Mr.. Cloud, how
can you say so?
81 pass over the disagreeable scene
which followed | will not mention
Mr.. Clouds chagrin or my mothers
amazement, even as I explained how
had stolen down the stairs and had
fastened the precious pin in the lapel
Of the coat, just for fun. and how l
Intended after teasing him to tell him
that it was there AS I talked l could
see my mothers incredulous looks and
Mr.. Clouds absolute dismay. They did
not believe me.
After the most painful quarter of
an hour which l ever expect to spend
Mr.. Cloud left, shaking hands cordially
with my mother and saying a cold
goodnight to me.
After he had gone my mother said:
'Mazie. my darling girl. tell the truth.
1t Is not too late
There is nothing more to tell,
mother l said. L have told you the
whole truth
After a while my mother saw thai
I was in earnest and she believed me.
But as next day came and passed, ana
no word came from Mr.. Cloud, saw
that he doubted me. The third day
there came a formal note saying that
II I would return the pin he would give
ne it's value in money, paying me as
rapidly as his circumstances would
n rmit. ~ u was vaDo0 at mMF