The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1908-03-05
For His Sake
BY Sue Mcnamara

| People in Edhamyille were rather
curious about Mrs. Courtney. Why
such a pale, sad-eyed little woman
should spend SO much time earning
and making gorgeous clothes which
she never wore in the village was a
little beyond them
All the year round Mrs. Courtney
worked in the dry goods store as one
of the salesladies. Although she was
very gentle and very gracious, there
was always a faint reserve and dig
nifty about her through which no one
could penetrate. And always there was
the far-away shadow of sadness in her
eyes
And what beats me-" said old Mrs.
Poplam, the village gossip, didn't |
drop in there Wednesday night after
prayer meeting, aud wasn't she sew.
ing away on the swellest silk dress
ever laid eyes on, 1t looks mighty
queer Has any one around here ever
seen her wear them?'
There was a hint of frost in the air
and the sun was dying In the wce' one
| night late in October, when Mrs .lrt-
ney hurried in at her gate. 1t had
been a hard day at the store. Yet,
with feverish eagerness, without TAX
Ing the time to prepare her usual plain
little supper, she set to work on some
iilmy, fluffy material which she hauled
down from the dresser drawer.
Because they mustn't be merely
nice clothes dear" she whispered to
herself. They must be lovely, cXtrav.
agant; the kind of clothes r woman
who has everything would wear If
they weren't the very finest you would
be sure to suspect. They must be
Just as lovely as the ones had be.
fore-before--"
Needless of the costly stuff she held
in her lap the woman buried her face
in it with heartbreakng sob.
The next day, unconscious of tho
surprised starcs Of the villagers, she
took a train for the north. A big
trunk, bearing all the fine clothes,
went with her. After riding all day
she arrived at a big city. Here she
hastened at once to a hotel. When
she emerged from her room she was
transformed from the plain little wom-
an who had entered 1t to blooming
beauty, A skllful maid. hair.
dresser and the sumptuous clothes
had made her again the woman she
used to be.
TO the penitentiary." was the quick
order she gave the hack driver.
The gray-haired warden was used to
admitting women Visitors. lie looked
approyingly after Mrs. Courtney. This
was the third year the pretty we'll,
dressed woman had come to see No.
2,O99, in other words, James Courtney,
doing 20 years for forgery
In the cold grim little stone cham.
ber Mrs, Courtney waited She could
scarcely breathe for the pounding Of
her heart. She closed both eyes and
held her hands to her breast to quiet
1t. Then she was conscious Of step
in the corridor. There was a low
cry:
"Maida,"
1t was his voice, the voice she had
hungered for through the barren. pitt
less year. 1t was all gone. the heart.
ache and the torture. And she was
here, safe once more in the encircling
shelter Of his dear arms. Through the
dazed blur of tumult in her brain her
hands stole to his face, tenderly
caressing each sunken feature.
What? Bring tears and sighs 10
this one hour Of the year? Leave only
an added memory OF sorrow and pain
to this man whose whole existence
was now but a gray shadow?
So she laughed and was gay, though
her heart was breaking. 1t was all a
part with the lovely, extravagant
clothes. the clothes he would remem-
ber with happiness when she was
gone.
And jim, dear,' she was saying, Il
have such fine, paying position.
just enough light work to keep me
from being idle and getting too lonely
without you"
The brave voice broke for a mo-
ment, but when she raised her face
from his shoulder she was smiling
through her tears.
Sorry, madam, but times up" said
the guard, respectfully.
The big gates changed behind them.
Jim stood silent, straining his ears to
catch the last silken rustic of her
skirt. When he turned his face again
toward the dark and gloomy corridor
he held his head hit5h and there was
an unwonted look In. his eyes.
G,,a