Las Vegas optic., 1912-10-25
PEACOCK
FEATHERS
BY Clarence .. Robbins

muII6Teu AuuL A6dtud dH tu0 DShutt
full peacocks strutted proudly along the
terrace
"Why don't you like them, Aunty 7"
asked Bess Long as she tossed a bis
cult to one Of the birds.
Mrs Long shook her head mourn.
fully 1T means bad luck to have EN-
around" she said
Il don't believe IT," declared Besa
stoutl,' q think | am lucky to own
them. l always admired Hester's pea.
cocks, and when she went to Europe
and gave these to me-you know how
delighted ami
MY Aunt Emeline had peacock
feather fan that believe caused her
death," declared Aunt Agatha dismal,
il.
"But Aunt Emeline was nearly
ninety when she died; I 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 heI
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
ner," protested Bess
"She was picking up the peacock
feather fan" returned Aunt Agatha
obstinateIy, "and SO we burned the
fan in the kitchen stove"
1T was a 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. II must be get
ting back to the farm" she said prim-
ly. Il can't abide the screech of
those birds. 'Tain't fine feathers
make fine birds, nor never Wilt"
Bess said nothing, for she was quite
accustomed to her aunt's openly ex-
pressed dislike for the peafowls, but
herself a great lover Of beauty in any
Thing, she almost loved the splendid
coloring Of the feathers of the pea
cocks that strutted on the terrace.
She watched the old-fashioned fig
ure Of her country-bred aunt enter the
modern automobile which Uncle Fred
insisted was a necessity on the farm,
and waved them a gay goodbye be-
fore she retllrued to her slow pacing
Of the terrace.
Woodmere was beautiful estate,
for Mr.. Long was very rich, and this
country place was his pride. The pea
cocks were the finishing touch to the
formal garden with its clipped hedges,
sfancifulIy trimmed trees and stiff beds
of glowing flowers.
"Aunt Agatha has declared against
peacocks, she said to her father at
dinner that night
Agatha nourishes foolish vein of
superstition" observed Mr. Long by
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 cam
not even get glimpse of 1t except
from the west terrace, and haven't
walked there"
The next afternoon when the sun
Ilanted warmly on the western terrace
Of the Long house the peacocks took
! sudden fancy to sun themselves
here.
Bess, browsing in hammock ir an
upper balcony, saw the beautiful crea-
lures leave the terrace and drag their
sweeping plumage across the grass to
the brick wall that separated the two
estates. 1t had been Mr.. Longs great
grief that he could not purchase the
adjoining property and thus enlarge
his own grounds on that side; but the
Allyns had had a long lease Of the
property, and had never occupied ii
until this season.
From the upper windows Of the
Long house one could see quite over
the high brick wall into the quiet gar
den Of the other house.
q do hope that the peacocks will
not bring bad luck-to-old Mr.
Allyn" thought Bess. as she dropped
into light slumber.
The harsh scream Of one Of thu
birds brought her to her feet wide
awake and trembling.
How dreadful-it fitted into my
dream so wildly. must go down anc
bring them back" Bess yawned anC
shook a dimpled fist at the peacock
now sitting on the brick wall ans
screeching outrageously
At that moment she saw lean hant
reach up from the other side Of tn,
wall and neatly catch one Of the bird
by its ugly feet and drag it down ou
of sight. An instant later the othe
frightened bird also made its screech
ing exit only to be promptly mufie,
in some manner Then followed in
tense silence.
Miss Long stared incredulousl,
from the window for several moment
and, seeing nothing except the tangl
o. the old garden beyond the wal
and hearing not a sound of her var
ished birds or Of their captor. sh