The Opelousas courier., 1886-07-31
STROLOGER'S DUPE

"A little Ou Woinau, SEdy-HdiTcu dlu
trembling, sat a little while ago in the
back Office Of a Wall-street stock broker.
Her gaze was fixed on a wide blackboard,
where chalk figures showed the drift of
stock market quotations; there wa no
lustre in her eye; her whole aspect was
thatof one d~umbfounded, ~brokenhearted.
She had a sad story to tell were there
only spirit enough left to her for a recit-
al. A year ago she came to this same
brokerage Office. Her purse was fat with
bank bills and she gave an order for the
purchase of 500 shares of a stock which
had been active a long time. The broker
advised her against the purchase, and
told her plainly that he had what he be-
lieyed excellent reasons for expecting a
heavy decline in the particular stock she
had selected to buy. But she persisted
in he's determination, declaring that she
had information which could not be
wrong that the stock was bound to go
up a good deal very 0 She had her
way, despite tho counsels that plainly
predicted the loss of her money. She
left 50, 900 in cash as a 10 per cent. mar
gin to protect her interest and went her
way with a calm confidence shown on
her countenance. 81 shall make a good
deal of money! she said as she left, stfor
the information / have comes from the
very highest authority" The stock per-
perversely declined forthwith, and each
day saw some fraction clipped off OF the
preceding days quotation. Within a
month the original So, 900 margin had
dwindled down to 81, 900, and the broker
was obliged to call for another deposit
from his customer to protect her interest.
she came down town with the same self
satisfied smile, and with the same express
sions OF confidence produced her rounded
purse again. Four thousand dollars she
left in the brokers' hands this time.
teThe advance, | am told. has been una
voidably delayed a little while, Z she said.
with d tone full of assurance and faith,
tsbut it is bound to come 5000 now, and
feel as sure that my money is safe az if
/ had it all in bank awaiting my orders
This was in response to further grave pre-
dictions from the broker, who, by much
argument tried to convince her that she
was being misled. Another short period
elapsed; and another enforced call was
made upon the sunny faced old lady.
Just a bare suspicion Of disquiet was be-
ginning to show itself, but there was no
backdown IN her action. Out anne
more money. And so a little later did
more still follow. Then not long ago
she came yet again; she brought her
bank book. She showed to the broker
that q year ago it credited her with de-
posits Of SIS, 900, Of which but 81, 500
remained; and that 81, 500-esery penny
Of it, every penny she possessed in the
world-she handed over. She was not
yet utterly downcast. nBut yesterday, 7
she averred. 81 had my information re-
peated again and the rise which I've
waited for 20 long Is to comealow right
away Down went the market, lower
and lower dropped the price Of the ex-
pectant woman's 500 shares Of stock, till
that day d little while ago when for the
last time she came into Wall-street again,
dropped into an armchair before the quo
tation board and gazed long and ~listless-
II, IS one il 4 deep dream, confronting
the white figures that gIared out At her
there like tho eyes of 80 many demons.
All of her SIS, 900 was gone; she had
only poverty left. But she was brave
still, and when her broker approached
her she rose with the grace Of ! woman
young and queenly and thanked him for
all bis eourtesies and tile good advice be
had wasted on her.
Now, Madam, will you do mi the
great favor Of telling me from what
source you received the false information
III which you relied 50 implicitly and
risked 50 much moneyan This VA the
brokers' question.
Upon an astrologer. This Was her
amazing answer, and she named i man
whose s'card' Is Haunted publicly in The
metropolis. There was stupefed broker,
i broker who got mad. He didn't say
sFoMp' but 10 looked if. The Old lady
talked then freely, Il wa 10 new thing,
she said, for her 10 seek the advice Of
this a~astrologer, { her husband had done
tho same before her and 4 score Of her
friends. she said, had implicit confidence
lii The revelations of tic seer
ssTHI giye Vol 81 600 7 said the broker
hotEy, yosln prosnisa me one thing
Ihe eld H~sassnlng eoanteaanse
Showed III need have no doubt 81
Till nronaiaa come into Wilt
strast aes azd bare 80 mors % "a with
Ahis bla1xed seoanarel Whose Hes have
1ss gaa desay
ae Was glaally exchanged TOR