Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 November 1892 — HE FEARED THE OPAL. [ARTICLE]

HE FEARED THE OPAL.

The Late Father Molliager Believed the Gem Had a Baleful Power. The belief that the opal sheds a baleful influence found a supporter even in the late Father Mollinger, of Pittsburgh, the venerable priest-phy-sician of world-wide fame. Almost since the opal was known superstition has clung to it, and it has been so held by persons in every condition of life. The way it lecame known that the famous priest held this superstition was as follows: Last winter one of Alleghany’s leading physicians lay sick for months. Dr. Cyrus King attended him. The two had been friends all their lives, and Dr. King watched almost night and day until he brought his friend back to health. On his recovery he presented Dr. King with a splendid opal cet in pearls. The pin was a unique piece of jewelry and was very handsoma Dr. King was also physician for Rev. Father Mollinger. One night, shortly before the great priest’s death, the doctor was summoned to the pretty parsonage on Mount Troy. The aged priest was weak, and lay there apparently powerless. He asked the doctor to come again the next day, but Mr. King informed him he was to leave for New York that night. The venerable priest was lying with his eyes half closed. Just then an attendant turned up the light and Dr. King moved forward to say good-by. At that the priest caught sight of the ever-changing colors of the baleful stone.

‘ What, an cpal!” he gasped, halfrising in his bed. “It is sure to bring harm to yourself ana your friends. Why do you wear it?” The doctor explained the story ol the gem, but all the time the venerable father grew more excited. Finally he said: “If you wear that stone tc New York you will never come back alive,” The doctor insisted on wearing it, however, and the priest took the gem and blessed it Then, returning it, he said: “When you come back 1 will give you a pin worth wearing.” On his return the aged priest was as good as his word, and the doctor was presented with a magnificent diamond. Dr. King took the pin home, intending to remove the opal and put in the diamond, but he forgot, and when hurriedly summoned to the death bed of the great priest he still wore the opal. The father at once noticed it and remarked: “Its flashes seem to make me weaker. The stone bodes ill.” Gradually he sank, and tbe doctor bent over him to catch tbe ‘faint beating of his heart The father’s eyes opened and rested on the titful colorings of the strange stone, and, watching it, his spirit went out