The Van Buren press., 1874-06-23

husband and for her affection, although
they doubted not for moment that 10
ny Hardscrabbe was guilty as charged
The wife and her boys and girls kept
close to their home, grieving as for d
husband and father dead. After few
weeks Mrs. Hardscrabble was seen
abroad, then at the county seat, and then,
wonder Of wonders this woman, who
had never been mile from her home
snce her marriage, went 10 the State
Capital. Few of the men would under.
take such journey. Tony's wife re-
ceived tue compliment OF being plucky
woman. In due time notice appeared
in the county paper that an application
would be made for the pardon Of Tony
Hardscrabbe The people deliberately
and emphatcally frowned upon. aud
comparatively few signed the petition,
although it was presented to every man
in the neighberhood by Mrs. II. herself.
Everybody was now talking about To
ny's wife. She was constantly gong.
There were hints that she or her lawyer
had found new points Of evidence. Dur
ing the year she wentto the Ge vernor
I've times with her plea for pardon,
and was met with refusal every time
And yet she persisted. She went out
washing, went out in butchering time,
worked even in the fields for money. and
spent it in going to and from the State
Capital. People reasoned with her and
tried to convince her that there was no
hope that all this effort was more than
useless. She rarely made any reply. ex-
cept to Protest that her husband was m
nocent, and she would never rest until
she had proved that he was not guilty
and until she had secured his release.
The old ladies pronounced her crazy, but
their grandmotherly old eyes were ten
der as they said it., and they thought it
was shame that such man as Tony
Hardscrabble should have such fine
woman for vile And while they praised
the wife, they abused the husband.
Mrs. Hardscrabbls had been to the
Governors Office eighteen times, carry
ing each time some new atom or evi'
dence, some new suggestion from her
lawyer, some fresh concession from the
judge or prosecuting attorney, an addi-
tionaI name from the jury before whom
the case was tried. She haunted the
Governors otlic. and the offices Of the
prison authorities. She always had IL
personal interview, and aroused sym
patty even while her facts were consid
cred uninportant. She went the nine
teenth time with a sealed letter from the
prosecuting attorney. She was received
with the old smile at the Governors Of
fee, but waited patiently for her inter
view with the Governor himself, who
had almost declined to see her Her let
ter produced astonishing results The
prosecutor withdraw the charge. The
real thief had been arrested, and had
submitted statements in regard to the
theft that showed that Tony Hardscrab'
bic had not been concerned. The aiiida.
Wits and other documents were inclosed
with the formal recommendation for par
don by the judge and prosecutor. They
Joined heartily in praise Of Mrs. Hard
scrabble, and hoped the Governor. in
view of the persistent efforts of the wo'
man, and in view Of the extraordinary
circumstances Of the case, would waive
all formalities, grant an immediate par
don, and allow the woman to take her
husband home with her.
The proof of the man Innocence was
so plain, the statements were SO clear,
that the Governor hcsitated not to join
in the plan to surprise the woman who
had so worked for her husbands release.
She was asked to wait moment in the
audience room, and, sad and almost dis.
heartened, she waited while glad news
flew in the other room. When the Gov
ernor came to her. he held in his hand n
parchment, and unbent to say:
Mrs. Hardscrabble, the documents
presented to-day establish your husbands
innocence. thought you might like to
carry the pardon to him yourself Here
it is, and only hope he is worthy OF his
wife -
The good woman's face tremoled like
her own baby's when about to cry She
dropped on her knees, caught the Cover
nor's hand and covered 1t with kisses, as
she had often. in her loneliness, kissed
her baby. Then came an outpouring OF
thanks.
Your husband is innocent. l do my
simple duty No thanks are due me. "
but | must thank some one
Then clutching the pardon. she hew to
the penitentlary. In less than an hour
she was dragging her dazed and awe
struck husband through the capitol cor
riders to the Governors office, to pre-
sent him to that officer.
Tony wus overwhelmed by conflicting
and tremendous emotions. He was free.
His wife had done it. He knew that.
She had held the pardon under his eyes,
and he had taken her in his arms and had
given her the first genuine, full meaning
kiss of his life. He had always liked her
and had always been kind to her, as he
understood kindness. But he had never
known her. She pulled him along as
though he were boy. She, who had
never been mile from home. knew the
Governor. This, to Tony, with his prs-
on experience before him, was tre'
mendous fact. What would happen3
The Governor took him by the hand:
"Now, my man, ain glad this is as 1t
is. And am glad that you have such
wife. Try the world again, and let me
hear from you.
That night Tom Hardscrabbles chill
dren clambered about him and awoke in
him hundred new sensations. He had
never seen such pretty baby. such