Free press., 1908-03-14
For His Sake
BY Sue McNamara

People in EdhamVille were rather
curious about Mrs Courtney. Why
such 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, and 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 hint of frost in the air
and the sun was dying in the west one
night late in October, when Mrs. court
ney hurried in at her gate. 1t had
been 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
filmy, 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, extrav-
agant; the kind of clothes a 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 l had be-
fore-before-"
Needless of the costly stuff she held
in her lap the woman buried her face
in it with a heartbreaking sob.
The next day, unconscious Of the
surprised stares of the villagers, she
took 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
fastened at once to a hotel When
she emerged from her room she was
transformed from the plain little wom-
an who had entered it to a blooming
beauty. A skillful 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. He looked
approvingly after Mrs. Courtney. This
was the third year the pretty, we'll
dressed woman had come to see No.
2,099, in other words, James Courtney,
doing" 20 years for forgery.
In the cold, grim little stone cham
Der 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
it, Then she was conscious of a step
in the corridor. There was a low
cry:
"Maidai'
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
earessing each sunken feature.
What? Bring tears and sighs to
this one hour of the year? Leave only
an added memory of sorrow and pain
to this man whose whole existence
was now but 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-
Der with happiness when she was
gone.
And Jim, dear" she was saying, II
have such fney 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 high and there was
an unwonted look in his eyes.