The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-08-05
n nj MI 051Ia'i1 SAs Z or llsAse

Hello. NE exclaimed ~ TIC Suu
den apparition of white-gowned
maiden in his retreat, and then having
slipped to his feet he stared blankly
at the extremely scOrnful though
charming countenance presented to
his
"Er-is anything the natter ne
stammered.
"Nothing-much." retorted Bess
warmly, but l would be greatly o.
ligel if you will return the peacocks
t. M garden"
Return the what to your garden!
he asked in ludicrous dismay.
My peacocks.
Put. | haven't seen your birds-l
wouldn't steal EN- anyway detest
the creatures he returned frankly.
They are very beautiful" said Bess
-. :lg. And then in few words she
described the scene she had witnessed
willie the young man rumpled his hair
and looked very much as If he be-
lieved she had been dreaming.
III at once his face cleared. by
] ve, believe 1t was Yang" he
!, pritci. and dashed out of sight.
He is crazy said Bess darkly. Il
neger was mixed up in such mysteri-
I'll. happenings in my life. | wonder
i: il can be the illluck that follows
peacock feathers
She fingered uneasily near the door
OF the garden wall. In the distance
she heard shrill protesting shrieks.
ard the thunder of deep masculine
voice lifted In stern reprOOf. Then
there followed scufiling sound on the
yrayeled path. and presently her
new acquaintance appeared, dragging
the reluctant form of 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 | 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 matter OF
fact think he had a covetous eye
upon the plumage What can do ia
| roctifv thia mattero"
1T Is too late now" murmured
Bess. They ought not to have been
trespassing, of course 1t was horrid
Of your man to kill them-they are
30 beautiful and looked SC splendid
trailing back and forth on the ter
race"
III you would permit me to replace
them" he was beginning, but Boss
shook her head decidedly.
Il would rather not, please. Aun
Agatha said they would bring ba(
luck. and believe there is something
in it after all You see they've los
their own lives to begin with"
And Yang has lost his job sale
Allyn darkly.
al w" walled Yang mOurnfully.
A little smile dmpled the corner O
the girls mouth. Let's change thing
about" she said suddenly. III pea
cocks have always carried ill-luck. VI
will have things different. To begir
with, Yang shall keep his Job. ant
that means good luck to him. see?"
Now that's real sporting OF you
Miss Long" said Allyn heartily. an,
when Bess blushed beautifully b.
added: Il wonder what luck they vii
have for mel was going to sail 70
Europe Wednesday. but I've changed
my mind. I'm going to stay RICH
here"
THAT sounds like bad luck" re
marked Bess.
1T seems like mighty good luck T.
me-" declared Allyn
Bess pretended not to understand
but her heart beat faster as he he'll
open the door In the wall and sh
passed through to the other side.
That was only the beginning, an
~hen October came with her goldel
measure Of days Bess Long becam
the bride of Jack Allyn. His gift I
her was a splendidly jeweled fan Q
peacock feathers at sight Of whic
Aunt Agatha threw up mittentd hand
In horror.
, But peacock feathers bring sue
bad luck she grOaned.
mot for U.S." explained Jack. NEE
ing his brides trusting eyes. Nv
!, have changed all that Peacock feat
ers means nothing but happiness an