The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-01-31
THE UNLUCKY OPAL.
EIisfortunes that Followed Temporary Pos
session of the Gem.

From the BTidgepor Comm Farmer.
About four weeks ago gentleman was stopping
with us from Mexico. He had with him ring, set
with q large opGt surrounded by diamonds of a
smaller size, but making beautiful and glistening
ornament The ring was his mothers 1t was left
to Inn at her death, and since il fell to him he
has had business troubles and general bad luck
lie was talking about It evening to my wife and
myself We all laughed, and she in joking way
said send it to me for week OF two. and | win
try my luck He consented and promised to call
for the gem in three or four weeks,
"a few evenings after he he had gone we were in
vited to play whist. Ny wife thought she would
wear the big opal, and from that night began q
series olmisfortunes In getting out Of O carriage
she tore her dress. At the whist table She hardly
took a trick. Somebody changed hats with me in
the dressing ROOM and when we got home we found
two children sick, and that the third had fallen
down stairs and received quite severe injuries The
next morning one Of the servants left us. Money
matters began to get involved with us. could not
get hold Of enough money 10 meet pressing demands
upon me, on account Of being disappointed in pay
ments that had been promised. One of our relatives
died. Bills came in embarrassingy fast. Our water
pres got ont Of order and all sorts OF disconaging
and unpleasant things have arisen to annoy us. At
last my wife was taken sick, and while lying in bed
she said Iieally believe all this trouble we have
had in the last four weeks has come about on ac-
count Of that opal ring
Last Saturday our fr1end came up to pass Sunday
with rs before his return TO Mexico We gave him
his opal and told him our troubles. Well said he
4 have had great luck in New York. Ever since
left here, four weeks ago, l have been making
money Everything I touched PANIED out large
profits Then we all laughed and said, What non.
sense but it certainly vas very funny.
"On Monday he with bis opal, babe Us goodbye
at o. clock in the morning Now watch what fol-
lowed. At $50 the pOstmau left letter with
check in II for $50 At 10 o'clock was paid $50 In
cash, which lno more expected than expected 70
be shot. Before night We had new servant The
Children and my wife all recovered from their indis-
position, and our household matters began 70 run
smoothly. On Tuesday morning at II o'clock
another 70 in cash was handed TO me Unexpectedly,
and the same mail brought q check OF SEQ more.
Bat thc climax was reached when the evening mail
bT5u1htG statement from a New York attorney that
aH estate had tean dividci up, and that my wile's
portion II 30 was Gh2a. lnC.osed was a statement
oIsoare..lpt and sll tie papers % sign before a
notary public. She signed the papers. AMI Is going
70 NeS York today to set the funds. Now am not
sIpcrtlHoF lut certainly does look as 1.-THE opel
i,I olnethng do w-ta &c. Don't you think sot"
t.i N.a3dal .he popular English novelist, Is
row Is year e.d sh- ..thc- tail h r features are
plain tu, ahe 4a- a.cs iu g... goat expression her
h1iT oifo.de. r.l Atom tne1n yeais 40 she
married h.- Tu ..s.a- Dill Maxwell, ond her novels