Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-08-29
PEACOCK
FEATHERS
BY Clarence O. Robbins
Copyright. 1912. by Associated Literary Press.

81 wouldn't have the critters around"
muttered Aunt Agatha as the beauti-
ful peacocks strutted proudly along the
terrace.
why don't you like them, Aunty?"
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
II don't believe IT," declared Bess
stoutl'', 81 think | am lucky to own
them. always admired Hester's pea
cocks, and when she went to Europe
and gave these to me-you know how
delighted | ami"
MY Aunt Emelne had a peacock
feather fan that | believe caused her
death" declared Aunt Agatha dismal
ly.
But Aunt Emeline was nearly
ninety when she died; l 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
ner," protested Bess.
"She was picking up the peacock
feather fam" returned Aunt Agatha
obstinately, "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. Il must be get
ting back to the farm" she said prim-
ly. Il cant abide the screech of
those birds. 'Tain't fine feathers
make fine birds, nor never WILL"
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
thir~. she almost loved the splendid
coloring of the feathers of the pea
cocks that strutted on the terrace.
She watched the od-fashioned flg-
ure Of her country-bred aunt enter the
modern automobile which Uncle Fred
insisted was necessity on the farm,
and waved them a gay good bye be-
fore she returned to her slow pacing
OF the terrace.
,odmere was a 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.
fancifully trimmed trees and stiff beds
OF glowing flowers.
Aunt Agatha has declared against
roacocks," she said to her father at
dinner that night
Agatha nourshes a foolish vein of
superstition, observed Mr. Long by
the way, have you seen our new neigh
bore?'
"You mean the Allyns?"
Yes"
mo. Nora said they were occupy.
Eg the house, but of course we can
not even get a glimpse of it except
from the west terrace, and ! haven't
walked there%
The next afternoon when the sun
slanted warmly on the western terrace
of the Long house the peacocks took
sudden fancy to sun themselves
there
Bess browsing In a hammock II 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 long lease of the
property, and had never occupied 1t
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
Il 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 the
birds brought her to her feet wide
awake and trembling.
How dreadful-it fitted into my
dream SO vividly. must go down and
bring them back" Bess yawned and
shook dimpled fist at the peacocks
now sitting on the brick wall and
screeching outrageously.
At that moment she saw q lean hand
reach up from the other side of the
wall and neatly catch one of the birds
by its ugly feet and drag 1t down out
of sight An instant later the other
frightened bird also made it's screech.
ing exit only to be promptly muffied
in some manner. Then followed in
tense silence.
Miss Long stared incredulously
from the window for several moments
and, seeing nothing except the tangle
o. the old garden beyond the wall,
and hearing not sound of her van
ished birds or of their captor she
marched grimly downstairs and, OBJ
tanning big rusty key from the gar
dener she made her way through the
little pine grove to small door set in
the brick wall
The lock was rusted and the key
was unwieldly. Bess struggles brave
ly until the key turned creakinsfy and
she could pull open the closed door.
1t admitted her to long, vine-cov-.
cred arbor where in the green gloom
,yo,,pn MON curpo In bo ~ aoly