The Irish standard., 1912-07-27

"Hello!" he exclaimed at tho sud
den apparitfon of white-gowned
maiden in his retreat, and then having
slipped to his feet he stared blankly
at the extremely soorntul though
charming countenance presented to
his.
"Er-ts anything the matter" he
stammered.
"Nothing-muchl" retorted Boss
warmly. but l would be greatly OBJ
liged II you will return the peaoooks
to my garden"
Return the what to your Earden1"
he asked in ludiorous dismay.
My peacocks."
But. l haven't seen your birds-I
wouldn't steal EN- anyway detest
che creatures" he returned frankly.
They are very beautiful" said Bees
sti11ly. And then In a few words she
described the scene she had witnessed
while the young man rumpled his hair
and looked very much as II 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. II
never was mixed up In such mysteri-
GUS happenings in my life. 1 wonder
II 1t 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 tho thunder of deep masculine
voice lifted In stern reproof. Then
there followed 3 scuflling sound on the
travelled path, and presently her
new acquaintance appeared, dragging
the reluctant form Of a Chinese cook.
In the Chinaman's 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 l 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
TACT l think he had covstous eye
upon the plumage, What can l do to
rectify this matter?"
ut is too late now" murmured
Bess They ought not to have been
tresnassing, Of course. 1t was horrid
Of your man to kill them-they are
10 beautiful and looked &C splendid
trailing back and forth on the ter
race"
III you would permit me to replace
them" he was beginning, but Bese
shook her head decidedly.
II would rather not, please. Aunt
Agatha said they would bring bad
luck, and l believe there Is something
n it after all. You see they've lost
their own lives to begin with"
And Yang has lost his 1ob." said
Allyn darkly.
"A VII" walled Yang mournfully.
A little smile dimpled 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, sect"
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. I'm going to stay right
here"
"That sounds like bad luck" re-
marked Bess.
TT seems like mighty good luck to
ne," declared Allyn.
Bess pretended not to understand,
but her heart beat faster as he held
'pen 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 to
her was a splendidly jeweled fan of
peacock feathers at sight of which
Aunt Agatha threw up mittened hands
In horror.
But peacock feathers bring such
bad luck" she groaned.
mot for U.s." explained Jack. meet
Ing his brides trusting eyes. I'VE
have changed all that. Peacock feath.
ers means nothing but happiness and
| good fortune for US"
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