Show ALFONSOS FATAL QtM A llojal Opal Whlrli llrlaga llesth lo blue I rOn r-On of the atrangest of Ihe many jew els which hang around Iho nrck of tho statue of Our Ijtdy of Almudena nt Madrid Is I a ring which I believed to lave brought misfortune to the royal housn of Hpaln during limo last two decade de-cade It la I a magnificent 011 l surrounded sur-rounded by large diamonds The late King Alfonso XII gave It to lila cousin Mrrcedea when ho was betrothed to her and she wore It during the whole of her married life which lasted only a few months On her death the younk king presented It to his grandmother Queen Christina whn died shortly afterward Tlrcn II passed lo the klnga sister tho Infanta del Pllar No woner had she begun to wear this fatal iron than she sickened awl In a few days her body was borno to Ihe gravn Alfonso nell sent the ring lo his sisterinlaw Chris linn the youngest daughter of tho Duo do Monlprnslrr but In three months It reverted to hue king by her death HI majesty for Ihe first IImo reallilni Iho horrible succession of went attach IliK to tho ownership of the opal drier mined to keep It himself fearful tha If he uiniln bitluwrd II upon one of his fair relative shv would not lone sun VICe tIe gIft 110 hlrnalf therefore roll n victim tu Its mysterious malignancy dlng shortly afterward Tim prrteirt queen was anxloua tu be rid forever or the ring so she cave Instruction tha II should tJII suspended nround the neck of tho statue of the Holy Virgin of Atmudcna whcro It hu slnto remained |