Rock Island Argus., 1911-05-10

ed m ner ear as he attempted to draw
her away from the window. But she
was strangely rigid in his arms. and
be felt little thrill of horror in the
discovery that she was quite cold. In
deed, the little white hand that fell
coldly upon his was like the ictness Of
alabaster or its sister-marble.
a low. delicious trim of laughter
broke his momentary hesitation. 1t
did not come from the lady in his
arms, but from the girl who had fol-
lowed him into the room.
He turned and looked at her. She
was smsll and slight. with a pale face
crowned with bronze brown hair. but
her face was lovely and her eyes the
softest brown. She wore the most
charming gown of brown velvet that
matched her eyes exactly. She was
dimpling with laughter when he turn
ed, and she tried TO stiffen her fea-
lures into solemnity as their eyes met.
Il hope you VIII pardon mel am
so sorry" she faltered. you have
been so very kind and brave to put
out the fire, but II you had not said
madam # would not seem so funny.
oh. desrr' Again she rippled into
laughter.
Lucien looked down at the form he
was holding so stif1y in his arms
His eyes widened with amazement.
and q sheepish grin overspread his
face.
The lady of the alabaster hand star.
ed unwinkingly at him from beautiful
eyes fringed with long lashes. Her
beautifully arranged dark hair was
drawn away from a waxen brow-yes.
a waxen face Of pink and white per-
fectioni The shimmering fabric OF
her handsome gown fen Imply away
from her. and the laces OF her sleeve
exposed a waxen arm and the perfect
alRbaster handl
Gently Lucien Braddock stood the
wax figure upright. The lovely ala
baster white hands were held stif1y
before her. She was very beautiful,
but she was made Of wax.
Il am so sorry" repeated the girl as
Lucien faced about
I'm not" he said after a quick
glance at her face. ITS one on me
though. Er-I wonder If you would
mind telling me why she was standing
there IN the Window"
'T must explain" said the girl with
pretty dignity. You see. live with
my cousin. Jeanne Goulard. She mar
ried NJ. GouIard of Paris. and after he
died she found she was quite poor. So
she came back to New York with JAs
loyeHest ideas about clothes and open
ed dressmaking parlors in this house.
That is all. You have mistaken the
model IN one of the front windows
for a-a-person. We are very CRATE
full to you for your brave deed tonight,
sir. You may smile, but the waxen
model is very valuable and the gown
also"
Lucien laughed heartily at his own
discontinue. and the girl Joined him
with that low contralto laugh which
he had heard once before.
81 wonder If you would mind telling
me something" he ventured.
What is it?''
vestibule of your house several weeks
ago and seeing a man taking of his
hat to your model?" asked Lucien.
Yes, indeed! Pardon me, but it was
80 funny"
This time Lucien Joined her In the
laugh. and the sound OF their mirth
brought Nine. Goulard below stairs.
After the whole matter had been ex-
planned to her Nine. Goulard intro
duced her pretty cousin as Miss Ethel
Wyudsel. and Lucien recollected a
10 Of ha
been Nick Wyndsel, and Of course he
was Etheps brother. Lucien was in
vited to dine with them. and Nine
Goulard insisted that his visa Wis
might be the lovely model with the
alabaster hand
Then Lucien told his story and re-
lated how he had looked from under
his umbrella that rainy night to dis
cover the alabaster hand holding back
the curtain.
"Oh. that was Ethers artistic pos
ing" laughed Mime. Goulard. "She
admired the hands Of that model quite
as much as you did. sir. 1 suppose it
was her own arm that reached up and
pulled down the shade"
Il shall always have the friendliest
feeling for the wax lady" said Lucien
earnestly as he bade them good night.
Months afterward, when certain mat
ters Of Importance had to be settled
between Ethel and himself. he protest
ed that her own small hand with its
shell pink palm and the diamond glis-
tening on the third finger was the
fairest thing in the world
"Ah. but II It had not been for the
lady with the alabaster hand you
would never have met me-" she re-
preached him.
True" he agreed. Lets have the
lady for your bridesmaid"