Charlevoix county herald., 1907-10-12
THE PLASTER
HAND
BY GRACE BRUToN

Grace Drew was not pretty girl,
but she was lovable and charming.
Her hands made a strong point for
her-they were so white and soft and
appealing. Whenever Billy Dunn, her
lover. was permitted to press one of
these lovely hands he entered the
seventh heaven. He loved just to
look at the dainty palm and daintier
fingers.
Wherefore, when an artist friend
begged the privilege of casting the
pretty right hand in plaster Billy rest
ed not until he had secured possession
of the plaster cast.
II take 1t wherever l CO." he told
Grace, and truly-Billy was a travel
ing man and covered many long miles
every month. AT night l take it out
Of the silk lined leather case l have
had specially made for it, and lay it
before me. 1t never fails to comfort
my loneliness and keeps me in my
room many a time when otherwise
| might be out with the boys"
Whenever you feel like going out
with the boys the plaster hand must
come back to me-" Grace answered
gravely. Il don't propose to give my
hand, not even plaster cast OF 1t,
to a young man who isn't living up
to his best
II couldn't fail to try to, at least"
Billy made response, with that dear
little hand before me. l use it for a
paper weight when / write my letters,
and it brings me more happiness and
good thoughts than you know"
There came a time, moreover, when
it kept Billy's life and love intact for
his sweetheart. Good at heart, but
none too determined, Billy Temperate
ly had fallen under the wiles OF a
charmer exceedingly different from
Grace, had spent, swayed by her al
ternate coaxings and tauntings, not
only his own money but also money
belonging to the firm at certain al
Turing gambling table. He left the
place dazed and hopeless. Nothing
but disaster lay before him. Well, at
least-so his confused thoughts wan
dered-he need not face the trouble
In person. There was always the pis-
tot way out.
1t did not seem such a bad way, so
long as the unaccustomed stimulant
clouded his brain, but 1t seemed
horrible way when his eyes fell on the
little white hand he had taken out of
its protecting case before leaving the
hotel at the behest of the heartless
charmer. A bitter pang transfixed
him at the thought of leaving Grace
behind-perhaps for some better fell
low! He sank into a chair beside the
table and buried his face in his hands.
When he looked up presently he
could have sworn that the plaster
hand lay nearer, the pistol farther
away, than when he had dropped his
head to the table. And the gently
curving fingers actually seemed to
radiate a stern command, an interdic-
ton, as they pointed towards the
pistol His head dropped again, and
when he raised it there were tears in
shame and sorrow.
And now it seemed that the gently
curving fingers limited at comfort and
tender pity. No it seemed they almost
spoke.
Suddenly he rose and, grasping the
pistol, locked it out of sight-as one
who distrusts his own powers OF re-
fusal. Then he sat for long time |
with the plaster hand pressed to his |
heart. He laid 1t down only to write |
two letters, long one to Grace and a |
short one to the firm, explaining the
truth fully, and asking for another
chance. Then he went to bed and |
slept as sleeps the prisoner who
knows not what the morrow may |
bring forth.
The morrow brought him reprieve.
The head of the firm lectured. was
disappointed, and so on. He
had not thought SO sensible man as
Mr. Dunn could have acted In so
wrong. so foolish a manner. Still-he
the full confession and
granted the second chance.
AS for Grace
Take out the plaster hand and look
at it." came her reply as quick as the
mails could bring it. IF you think 1t
a hand that could turn against a
friend in trouble send it back to me
your ring in return. II
me see you as soon as you
can"
1t was soon that he saw her, and
was fully forgiven. And it was not
much later that the plaster hand was
relegated to second place in his affec.
tons. since upon the dear flesh and
blood member from which it had been
he had placed plain gold