Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1900-04-25
TIE STORY
; Al Shield Pin.
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T cases, as we detectives call q cel tain
class Of work, so when Miss Angel Of
Broalside street, sent for me 70 take
up q .small personal mysters"I re-
q sponde,l with poor grace
Scarcely had she begun TO. tell her
story, however, than I became so in
terested that begged her 10 continue
and tell me the details Us far as pos
sible. =
Miss Angcll was engaged to Mr..
\ Cloud-a peculiar combination of
names to: begin with, and was devot-
edly attached to him. In fact, she
confessed with tears in her eyes that
his love was more, or had been more,
than life tosher.
The rest OF TIE story will let her
! tell in her own words.
Mr.. Cloud" she said, sis in the
habit OF calling upon me almost every
evening. About week ago he came
to dinner. invited By mamma He
was to attend a supper Of the Phoenix
club at 10 o'clock, and wore evening
dress. 3 s:
rat table We noticed an exquisite:
shield pin he wore. It shone 80 bril-.
liantly that it caught the eye at once.
Z MIR. Cloud took the pin off and it was
passed around the table for as all to
examine.
.it was shield as large as q quar-
Ter with the outside cage bordered
with pure rubies, blood red, all of
size and without o flaw. The centre
OF the shield consisted of large dia-
mond. cut not very deep, yet too deep
to be sunken, so it 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
1t before. &
.When we had finished exami ming
. 1t Mr.. Cloud said: THAT is my Phoenix
Club badge. 1t belongs to the presi-
dent. When I was elected the badge
was presented to me by the members
and when / resign, and new presi-
dent comes in, I must give up the
badge to him. It is the presidents
badge, to be owned by him during his
term of Office. Of course, it is only
to be worn at the meetings
Mamma spoke of its great value.
sYes,' said Mr.. Cloud, it is indeed
very valuable. It is worth thousands.
# we're to lose it should feel
ruined, rs I could never hope to re-
place it..
..As be spoke Mr.. Clouds face be-
came very serious. We had q case of
that kind, said he-'a most curious
case. The president lost his badge
and committed suicide next day. You
see he was suspected Of having sold /
il iss. gssS 3
After NE had looked at the badge
and talk "a abeut IT, Il very foolishly
asked 10 wear il, and in a fit of way
wardness reached across the table,
took it up and put it In the bow ofrib-
bon at my throat.
. At the close of the meal, Mr..
Cloud asked me for it, but I, TO tease
him, said ] meant to keep it, and ran
mp stairs with it on.
sit' t'ssss.er they were seated in the par
lor ! stole quietly down the stairs aud
placed the pin in the lining of Mr..
Clouds oYercoat, directly under the
lapel.
Il went back to my room and came
down stairs again. found mamma
and my sister seated alone in the par
lor. Mr.. Cloud had gone out to send
o Telegram. he would be back in
minute.
when he returned, which was after
half an hour, he came in. for only
minuta, to say good by, and to ask
FOR his pin: Come, Maize he said,
syoo have teased me long enough. Let
me have the pin now. Unjust go.
4 gave it back to you,' said,
and you have it now.'
Then / stood up and running my
fingers along the lapel of his coat felt
for the pin. 1t was gone!
II turned an white as snow and as
] felt the color leaving my face. I
said: 7 gave it back
tMy mother looked up surprised
and Mr.. Cloud stared st me. Yes, I
gave it back, j. put it on your coat.
Yousmust have it.
s'Why Maize said Mr.. Cloud.
how can you say so?'
.;.I pass over the disagreeable scene
which followed. Twill not mention
Mr. Clouds chagrin or my mothers
anazement. even as I explained how
Ehad stolen down the stairs and had
fastened the precious pin in the lapel
Of the coat, just for. fun, and how I
intended after teasing him to tell him
= at it wss' there. As I talked I could
see my, mothers incredulous looks
and Mr. Clouds absolute dismay.