The herald., 1912-09-26

"Hello!" he exclaimed at the sud
den apparition of white-gowned
maiden In his retreat, and then having
slipped to his feet he stared blankly
at the extremely scornful though
charming countenance presented tc
his.
"Er-is anything tho matter? he
stammered.
Nothing retorted Bess
warmly, but / would be greatly OBJ
liged If you will return the peacocks
to my garden"
Return the what to your garden!
he asked in ludicrous dismay.
MY peacocks."
But, l haven't seen your birds-l
the creatures" he returned frankly.
They are very beautiful" said Bess
stiff1y. 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 If he be-
lieved she had been dreaming.
All at once his face cleared. by
Jove, l believe 1t was Yang!" he
shouted, and dashed out Of sight
He is crazy" said Bess darkly. Il
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 shriH protesting shrieks,
and the thunder OF a deep masculine
voice lifted in stern reproof. Then
there followed scuffiing sound on the
graveled 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.
"Oh!" cried Bess sharply, and bit
her lip to keep back the tears.
Il can't tell you how sorry / 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 oovetous eye
upon the plumage. What can / do to
rectify this matter?"
1T is too late now" murmured
Bess. They ought not to have been
trespassing, Of course. It was horrid
Of your man to kill them-they are
70 beautiful and looked &c splendid
trailing back and forth on the ter
race"
IF you would permit me to replace
them" he was beginning, but Bess
shook her head decidedly.
II would rather not, please. Aunt
Agatha said they would bring bad
luck, and / believe there is something
in 1t after all. You see they've lost
their own lives to begin with"
And Yang has lost his job" said
Allyn darkly.
al VII" 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"
Now 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.
1T seems like mighty good luck to
me-" declared Allyn.
Bess pretended not to understand
but her heart beat faster as he held
open the door In the wall and she
passed through to the other side.
That was only the beginning, and
when October came with her COLDER
measure Of days Bess Long became
the bride Of Jack Allyn. His gift Il
her was splendidly 1eweled fan o.
peacock feathers at sight Of which
Aunt Agatha threw up mittencd hand.
in horror.
"But peacock feathers bring sucl
bad luck" she groaned.
mot for US" explained Jack. meet
ing his brides trusting eyes. "W,
have changed all that. Peacock feath
ers means nothing but happiness ant