The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-08-27
PEACOCK
FEATHERS
By Clarence q. Robbins
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
. -h,. ,Jla. ~ Associated Lltera.


Il wouldn't have the critters around,
muttered Aunt Agatha as the beauti
iul reacocks strutted proudly along the
terrace.
why don't You like them Aunty"
asked Bess Long as she tossed bis
cult to one of the birds.
Mrs. Long shook her head mourn
iully. III means bad luck to have EN-
around. she said.
Il don't believe it." declared Bess
stoutly. Il think l am lucky to own
them always admired Testers pea
cocks. and when she went to Europe
and gave these to me-you know how
delighted am"
My Aunt Emeline had peacock
leather fan that ! believe caused her
death. declared Aunt Agatha dismal.
ly
But Aunt Emelne was nearly
ninety when she died thought she
died from the effects of fall"
she was carrying the fan when
she fell She always carried it, al.
though the whole family warned her
against ill-luck. She dropped the fan
and stopped to pick it up. She turned
dizzy and fell down the front stairs"
But she might have been picking
up her handkerchief in the same man.
nor" nrCfoctoj nocC
She was picking up the peacock
feather fan" returned Aunt Agatha
obstinately, land so We burned the
fan in the kitchen stove"
1T was pity" murmured Bess.
watching the sunlight play on the
gorgeous feathers OF the outspread
tails of her pets.
Aunt Agatha arose and shook out
her cashmere skirts. Il must be get
ting back to the farm" she said prim-
~. Il can't abide the screech OF
;hose birds. faint fine feathers
make fine birds, nor never will"
l'css said nothing, for she was quite
accustomed to her aunt's openly ex.
pressed dislike for the peafowls, but
| herself great lover of beauty in any
Thing, she Amos loved the splendid
colorins Of the feathers of the pea.
cocks that struttcd on the terrace.
She Watched the old-tashonci fig
urc of h." cuntry-brcI aunt enter the
modern automobile which Uncle Fred
insisted WAS 4 necessity ON the farm.
and waved them Il Kay goodbye be-
fore she returned 10 her slow pacing
OF The terrace
NOodmere vas beautiful estate,
fer Mr.. Lons was very rich. and this
country place was his pride The peal
cocks We're the finishing touch to the
formal garden with its clipped hedges,
fanciiully trimmed trees and stiif beds
OF glowing flowers
Aunt Agatha hah declared ;sains,
peacocks." she said to her father at
dinner that night.
Agatha nourishes a foolish vein of
surcrstition,' observed Mr. Long. "ly
the way, have you seen our new neigh.
bOrs?"
You mean the Allyns?"
YES
mo. Nora said they were occupy
ing the house, but of course we can.
not even get glimpse Of it except
from the west terrace, and | haven't
walked there
The next afternoon when the sun
slantod warmly on the western terrace
Of the Long house the peacockS took
sudden fancy to sun themselves
there
Boss, browsing in hammock in an
upper balcony, saw the beautiful crea
lures leave the terrace and drag their
sweeping plumage across the grass t.
the brick wall that separated the two
estates II had been Mr. Longs great
grief that he could not purchase the
adjoining property and thus cnlargc
his own grounds OIL that side; but te
Allyns had had a long lease OF TIE
property, and had never occupied Il
until this season.
From tie upper Windows Of la
Long house one could see quite d..
The high brick wall into the qulo' ,~
Ger Of the other house
,;o hope that the peacock
no bring bad Iuck-to old
AlIyI Thought Boss, as she dro.
int lieh' siumber
Tic har,H scream of one -
biz heau@h her to her fccf
avaa" aaa trembling.
a,tadiul-it fitted iiju
dreaa % yividly. ! must 20 dos
bri.- p IA back" I,ess yaWrr4
shcok dinpled fst at the pca,.
now sitting on the brick wal
screcrhing outrageopsly
IT that moment she saw a lcat
reach up from the other side
wall and neatly catch one Of The
by IFS ugly feet and drag il dor
OF sight An instant later tie
frightened bird also made its st
ing exit only TO be promptly lA
in some manner Then follow