Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-03-28
AN UNLUCKY OPAL.
Story OF Connecticut Man Whose
Wife Wore a Borrowed Ring.

Story Of Connecticut Man Whose
Wife Wore a Borrowed Ring.
"About four weeks ago "a gentleman
was stopping with us from Mexico,
says the Bridgeport Conn Farmer"
ale had with him a very handsome
ring. In the center OF the setting is u
large opal, surrounded by diamonds OF
a smaller size, but making a beautiful
and glistening ornament The ring
was his mothers. 1t was left TO him az
her death, and ever since itfell 10 him
he has had business troubles and GEN
eral bad luck He was talking about
il one evening TO his wife aud myself
We all laughed, and sho in Joking
way said: oh, | wouldn't be afraid OF
bad luck il l 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 sor short time he would
lend it to her. don't believe in bor-
rowed plumes, but as he said that he
should be in New York for few weeks
attending TO some business matters be-
fore returning TO Mexico, and as he
would really like TO leave the opal with
some one for safety, it was decided 10
leave it here in Bridgeport. We are
all friends together, and did not think
of the ring other than to place it in
bureau drawer
"A few evenings after he had gone
we were invited to play whist My
wife had several diamond rings, but
thought the big opal would look rather
stunning at card table, 50 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 a trick. Somebody changed
hats with me in the dressing-room, and
when we got home we found two child
rem sick, and that the third had fallen
downstairs and received quite severe
injuries. The next morning one OF
the servants left us. Money matters
began 70 get involved with us. | could
not get hold OF enough money to meet
pressing demands upon me- on account
of being disappointed in payments that
had been promised. One of our rela-
tives died. Bills came in embarrass-
ingly fast. Our water pipes got out of
order, and all sorts Of discouraging and
unpleasant things have arisen TO annoy
us. At last my wife was taken sick,
and while lying in bed she said: Il
really believe all this trouble we have.
had in the last four weeks has come
about on account III that opal ring
Saturday our friend came up to pass
Sunday with us before his return to
Mexico We gave him his opal and
told him our troubles. We'll, said he,
Il have had great luck in New York.
Ever since left here four weeks ago l
have been making money. Every
thing / touched panued out large pro-
fits Then we all laughed and said:
What nonsensen but it certainly was
very funny.
"On Monday he, with his opal, babe
us goodbye at eight o'clock in the
morning. Now watch what followed.
At $50 the postman left a letter with
check in it for $50. At ten o'clock l
was paid $50 in cash, which / no more
expected than | expected to be shot.
Before night we had new servant.
The children and my wife recovered
! from their indispositon, and our house
hold matters began TO run smoothly.
! On Tuesday morning at eleven o'clock
another $50 in cash was handed TO me
unexpectedly, and the same mail
brought a check for 800 more. But
the climax was reached when the even
! ing mail brought a statement from a
New York attorney that an estate had
! been divided up, and that my wife's
portion was $l6.200 Enclosed was
statement, also receipt and all the
papers to sign before notary public.
She signed the papers and is going to
New York to get the funds. / am not
superstitious, but it certainly does look
as if the opal had something to do with
it. Don't you think SOP"