The Irish standard., 1912-07-27
PEACOCK
FEATHERS
BY Clarence O. Robbins

q, Literary Fre06,l
Il wouldn't have the critters around"
muttered Aunt Agatha as the beauti.
sul peaoocks strutted proudly along the
terrace.
why don't you like them, Aunty!"
asked Bess Long as she tossed q bis.
cult to one Of the birds.
Mrs. Long shook her head mourn.
fully. ut means bad luck to have 'ern
around" she said.
Il don't believe It," declared Bess
stoutly. Il think am lucky to own
them. always admired Hester's pea.
cocks, and when she went to Europe
and gave these to ms-you know how
| delighted I ami"
my Aunt Emeline had peacock
leather fan that l believe caused her
DEATH" declared Aunt Agatha dismal.
".
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 IT, 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
leather FAM" returned Aunt Agatha
obstinately, land 80 we burned the
ian in the kitchen stove"
1T was a pity" murmured Bess,
catching the sunlight play on the
gorgeous feathers of the outspread
;ails Of her pets.
Aunt Agatha arose and shook out
her cashmere skirts. Il must be get
ling back to the farm" she said prim-
v. Il can't abide the screech of
hose 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 great lover Of beauty in any
hing, she almost loved the splendid
:oloring of the feathers of tho pea
cocks that strutted on the terrace
She watched the old-fashioned fig
ire Of her country-bred aunt enter the
modern automobile which Uncle Fred
insisted was necessity on the farm,
md waved them a gay goodbye be-
ore she returned to her slow pacing
# the terrace.
Woodmere was beautiful estate,
or Mr.. Long was very rich, and this
country place was his pride. The pea
locks were the finishing touch to the
ormal garden with its clipped hedges,
ancifully trimmed trees and stiff beds
II glowing flowers. 5.
Aunt Agatha has declared against
,eacocks," she said to her father at
Inner that night
Agatha nourishes foolish vein of
superstition" observed Mr.. Long. by
he way, have you seen our new neigh
,ors?"
"You mean the Allyns?"
"Yes"
mo. Nora said they were occupy
ng the house, but of course we can
lot even get glimpse of 1t except
rom the west terrace, and l haven't
walked there"
The next afternoon when the sun
lanted warmly on the western terrace
f the Long house the peacocks took
sudden fancy to sun themselves
here.
Bess, browsing In hammock in IN
upper balcony, saw the beautiful crea-
lures leave the terrace and drag their
weeping plumage across the grass to
he 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
he high brick wall into the quiet gar.
len Of the other house.
Il do hope that the peacocks will
iot bring bad luck-to-old Mr..
Allyn" thought Bess, as she dropped
INTO light sl,n..,er.
The harsh scream Of one of the
Dirds brought her to her feet wide
awake and trembling.
"How dreadful-it fitted into nv
lream go wildly. l must go down and
BRING them back" Bess yawned and
,hook dimpled fist at the peacocks
pow sitting on the brick wall and
screeching outrageously.
At that moment she saw 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 muftled
in some manner. Then followed in.
tense silence.
Miss Long stared incredulously
from the window for several moments
and, seeing nothing except the tangle