The Irish standard., 1912-07-27

Hoilo! he exclaimed at the sud-
don apparition of white.gowned
maiden in his retreat, and then having
slipped to his feet he stared blankly
ut the extremely scorntul though
charming countenancs presented to
his.
''Er-is anything the matterf" he
stammered.
"Nothing-much!" retorted Boss
warmly, but l would be greatly OBJ
liged II you will return the peaoooks
to my garden"
Return the what to your garden3"
he asked in ludicrous 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
stiffly. 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, I believe 1t was Yans!" 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. l 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 the thunder of deep masculine
voice lifted in stern reproof Then
, there followed q scufiiing sound on the
travelled 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.
Obi" cried Bess sharply, and bit
her Up 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 matter Of
fact think he had covstous eye
upon the plumage. What can l do to
rectify this matter?"
1T is too late now" murmured
Bess. They ought not to have been
tresDassing OF course. 1t was horrid
Of your man to kill them-they are
10 beautiful and looked &c splendid
trailing back and forth on tho ter
race"
III you would permit me to replace
them" he was beginning, but Bess'
shook her head decidedly.
Il would rather not, please. Aunt
Agatha said they would bring bad
luck and l believe there IL something
IN it after all. You see they've lost
their own lives to begin with"
and Yang has lost his job" said
Allyn darkly.
"Ai Yi!" 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"
Nov 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.
ut seems like mighty good luck to
me," 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 splendidly jeweled fan Of
peacock feathers at sight of which
Aunt Agatha threw up mittened banda
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 u.s.
nnrlIIMN NAIMCn Dv lAInnnv