Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-11
AN UNLUCKY OPAL.
Story of A Connecticut Man Whose Wife
Wore a Borrowed Ring.

Story of A Connecticut Man Whose Wife
Wore a Borrowed Ring.
"About four weeks ago a gentleman
was stopping with US from Mexico, says
the Bridgeport Comm Farmer. " "He had
with him a very handsome ring. In the
center of the setting is large opal, sur
rounded by diamonds of smaller size,
but making beautiful and glistenlng
ornament. The ring was his mothers.
1t was left to him at her death, and ever
since it fell to him he has had business
troubles and general bad luck. He was
talking about it one evening to my wife
and myself We all laughed, and she in
Joking way said: On, l wouldn't be
afraid of bad luck if had such ring as
that He replied that he could not think
Of parting with the opal, as it had been
his mothers, but if my wife would like to
wear it for a short time he would lend it
to her. don't believe in borrowed plumes,
but as he said that he should be in New
Y ork for a few weeks attending to some
business matters before returning to Mex
leo, and as he would really like to leave
the opal with some one for safety, it was
decided to leave it here in Bird Seport. We
are all friends together, and did n OF think
of the ring other than to place it in 4
bureau drawer.
"A few evenings after he had gone we
were invited to play whist. Ny wife had
several diamond rings, but thought the big
opal would look rather stunning at card
table, so she wore it; from that moment
our luck changed. In getting out of
carriage she tore her dress. At the whist
table she took hardly trick. Somebody
changed hats with mo in the dressing
room, and when we got home we found
two children sick, and that the third had
fallen downstairs and received quite Sc
we're injuries. The next morning one of
the servants left us. Money matters
began to get involved with US.
| could not get hold of enough
m oney to meet pressing demands upon
me, on account of being disappointed in
payments that had been promised. One
Of our relatives died. Bills came in en-
barrassingly fast Our water pipes got
out Of order, and all sorts of discourag-
ing and unpleasant things have arisen to
annoy us. At last my wife was taken
sick, and while lying in bed she said:
really believe all this trouble we have
had in the last four weeks has come about
on account of that opal ring
Saturday our friend came up to pass
Sunday with us before his return to Mex
rco. We gave him bis opal and told him
Dur troubles Well said he, have had
great luck in New York. Ever since left
here four weeks ago l have been making
money. Every thing l touched panned
out large prcfts.' Then we all laughed
and said: 'W hat nonsensev but it GER
rainly was very funny.
ION Monday be, with his opal, babe US
goodbye at eight O'clock in the morning.
Now watch what followed. At $50 the
the postman left letter with check in it
for $50. At ten O'Clock l was paid $50 in
cash, which no more expected than ex-
pected to be shot. Before night we
had new servant. The children
and my wife all recovered from
their indisposition, and our bouse hold
matters began to run smoothly. On Tues
day morning at eleven O'Clock another $50
in cash was handed to me unexpectedly,
and the same mail brought check for
800 m ore. But the climax was reached
when the evening mail brought state.
ment from a New York attorney that an
estate had been divided up, and that my
wife's portion was S16, 200. Incosed was
statement, also a receipt and all the pa
Ders to sign before a notary public. She
signed the papers, and is going to New
York to get the funds. / am not supersti-
tious, but it certainly does look as if the
opal had something to do with it. Dent
think s.'"