Las Vegas optic., 1912-10-25


slipped to his feet he stared blankly
at the extremely sccrnfuI though
charming countenance presented to
his.
"Er-is anything the matter?" he
stammered
Nothing -much!" retorted Bess
warmly, but would be greatly OBJ.
liged If you will return the peacocks
to my garden"
Return the what to your garden?"
he asked in ludicrous dIsmay.
MY peacocks.'
But, ! haven't seen your birds-l
wouldn't steal EN- Anyway detest
the creatures" he returned frankly
They are very beautiful said Bess
stiffly And then in few words she
described the scene she had witnessed
while the young man rumpled his hair
and looked very much as If he be-
lieved she had been dreaming.
All at once his face cleared by
Jove, / believe 1t was Yang!" he
shouted, and dashed out of sight
He is crazy said Bess darkly. 4
never was mixed up in such mysteri.
GUS happenings In my life. l wonder
II It can be the ill-luck that follows
peacock feathers?''
She fingered uneasily near the door
OF the garden wall In the distance
she heard shrill protesting shrieks,
and the thunder OF a deep masculine
voice lifted In stern reproof. Then
there followed a scuffiing sound on the
graveled path, and presently her
new acquaintance appeared, dragging
the reluctant form of a Chinese cook.
In the Chinamans grasp were the
limp and lifeless forms Of her precious
peacocks.
"Oh!" cried Bess sharply, and bit
her lip to keep back the tears
Il can't tell you how sorry | am"
said young Mr.. Allyn humbly. Yang
swears by all his gods that he believed
the birds were common barnyard
fowls, and he was about to prepare
them for my dinner AS a matter of
fact ! think he had a covetous eye
upon the plumage. What can do to
rectify this matter?"
1T is too late now. murmured
Bess. They ought not to have been
trespassing, of course. It was horrid
of your man to kill them-they are
10 beautiful and looked sc splendid
trailing back and forth on the ter
race
IF you would permit me to replace
them" he was beginning, but Bess
shook her head decidedly.
Il would rather not, please. Aunt
Agatha said they would bring bad
luck, and believe there is something
in 1t after all You see they've lost
their own lives to begin with
@And Yang has lost his job" said
Allyn darkly,
"Ai Yi!" walled Yang mournfully
A little smile dimpIed the corner OF
the girls mouth, Let's change things
about" she said suddenly "If pea
cocks have always carried ill-luck, we
will have things different TO begin
with, Yang shall keep his job, and
that means good luck to him, see?"
Now that's real sporting Of you,
Miss Long" said Allyn heartily, and
when Bess blushed beautifully he
added Il wonder what luck they will
have for mel was going to sail for
Europe Wednesday, but I've changed
my mind. Pm going to stay right
here"
"That sounds like bad luck re
marked Bess
1T seems like mighty good luck to
me-" declared Allyn
Bess pretended not to understand
but her heart beat faster as he held
open the door in the wall and she
passed through to the other side.
That was only the beginning, and
when October came with her golden
measure OF days Bess Long became
the bride of Jack Allyn. His gift tC
her was a splendidly jeweled fan ol
peacock feathers at sight of which
Aunt Agatha threw up mittene d hands
In horror
tBut peacock feathers bring such
bad luck" she groaned.
Not for us" explained Jack, meet
ing his brides trusting eyes. eve
have changed all that Peacock feath
ers means nothing but happiness ant
good fortune for us"