The herald., 1912-09-26
PEACOCK
FEATHERS
By Clarence o. Robbins

Copyright lelZ, by ASSOCIATED Literay Fress'i
81 wouldn't have the critters around"
muttered Aunt Agatha as the beauti.
full peacocks strutted proudly along the
terrace.
why don't you like them, AuntyT
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
stoutlv. II think l 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 l ami"
my Aunt Emeline had q peacock
feather fan that l believe caused her
DEATH" declared Aunt Agatha dismal
ly.
But Aunt Emeline 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 1t 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. 81 must be get
ting back to the farm" she said prim-
ly. 81 can't 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 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 fg.
ure OF her country-bred aunt enter the
modern automobile which Uncle Fred
insisted was necessity on the farm,
and waved them a gay goodbye be-
fore she returned to her slow pacing
OF the terrace.
Woodmere 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 It's clipped hedges
fancifully trimmed trees and stiff beds
Of glowing flowers.
Aunt Agatha has declared against
peacocks," she said to her father al
dinner that night.
Agatha nourishss foolish vein oil
superstition" observed Mr.. Long. by
the way, have you seen our new neigh
bors?"
you mean the Allynsi"
les.
mo. Nora said they were occupy
Ing the house. but Of course We can
not even get glimpse Of 1t except
from the west terrace, and ! haven
walked there"
The next afternoon when the sur
Slanted warmly on the western terract
Of the Long house the peacocks tool
sudden fancy to sun themselves
there.
Bess, browsing In hammock In al
upper balcony, saw the beautiful crea
lures leave the terrace and drag thei
sweeping plumage across the grass t,
, the brick wall that separated the tw,
} estates. It had been Mr.. Longs grea
] grief that he could not purchase tn
!, adjoining property and thus enlarg
his own grounds on that side; but tn
Allyns had had long lease of tn
property, and had never occupied
, until this season.
From the upper windows of tn
Long house one could see quite owe
the high brick wall into the quiet ga,
! den Of the other house.
II do hope that the peacocks WI