The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-08-05
PEACOCK
FEATHERS
Bv Clarence o. Robbins


wouldn't have the critters around"
muttered Aunt Agatha as the beautt
full peacocks strutted proudly along the
terrace.
why don't you like them, Annty%'
asked Bess Long as she tossed 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 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
feather 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 1t, 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
ner," protested Bess.
"She was picking up the peacock
feather FAM" returned Aunt Agatha
0bstinately. "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. faint 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 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 thu
modern automobile which Uncle FREQ
insisted was a necessity on the farm
and waved them gay goodbye be
fore she returned to her slow pacing
Of the terrace.
81 WOOdmere was a beautiful estate
5 for Mr.. Long was very rich, and thi
B country place was his pride. The pea
) cocks were the finishing touch to thu
formal garden with its clipped hedges
) fancifully trimmed trees and stiff bed
of glowing flowers.
Aunt Agatha has declared agains
peacocks." she said to her father a
dinner that night.
!. Agatha nOurishes a foolish vein o
superstition" observed Mr. Long. B,
: the way, have you seen our new neigh
n bOrs?"
"You mean the Allyns?"
n YES"
mo. Nora said they were occupy
ing the house. but Of course We car
8 not even get glimpse OF It excep
;. from the west terrace. and l haven
= walked there
The next afternoon when the SUI
slanted warmly on the western terrac
Of the Long house the peacocks too
sudden fancy to sun themselve
. there.
Bess, browsing In a hammock in a
upper balcony, saw the beautiful ere;
lures leave the terrace and drag the
sweeping plumage across the grass I
the brick wall that separated the tw
estates. It had been MIR. Longs gres
grief that he could not purchase tn
adjoining property and thus enlars
his own grounds on that side; but ii
Allyns had had long lease OF ii
property, and had never occupied
until this season.
From the upper windows of ii
Long house one could see quite ov,
the high brick wall into the quiet ga
Gen of the other house
81 .,> hona TINT tho noacn,le "a.