American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-05-23
VOL. NXIV.

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in asserting her husbands innocence. She
chung to the man with what these prac-
teal women considered nonsensical,
romantic affection, and they had no pa
thence with her. Others honored her for
her faith in her husband and for her
affection, although they doubted not for
moment that Tony Hardscrabble was
boys and girls kept close to their home,
! grieving as for a 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 a mile from her home
since her marriage, went to the State cap
ital Few of the men would undertake
such Journey. Tony's wife received the
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 Hardscrabble.
This the people deliberately and emphat-
ically frowned upon, and comparatively
few signed the petition, although 1t was
presented to every man in the neighbor-
hood by Mrs. II. herself.
Everybody was now talking about
TOny's wife. She was constantly going.
| There were hints that she or her lawyer
had found new points of evidence. Dur
! ing the year she went to the Governor
twelve 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 1t 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 worse than useless. She
rarely made any reply except to protest
that her husband was innocent and she
would never rest until she had proved
that he was not guilty and until she had
secured his release. The old ladies pro-
nounced her crazy, but their grandmoth-
erly old eyes were tender as they said it,
and they thought it was a shame that
such man as Tony Hardscrabble should
have such fine woman for a wife. And
while they praised the wife they abused
the husband.
Mrs Hardscrabble had been to the Gov
ernor's office eighteen times, carrying
each time some new atom of evidence,
some new suggestion from her lawyer,
some fresh concession from the Judge or
prosecuting attorney, an additional name
from the jury before whom the case was
tried She haunted tine Governors office
and the offices of the prison authorities.
She always had personal interview, and
aroused sympathy even while her facts
were considered unimportant. She went
the nineteenth time with sealed
eIter from the prosecuting attorney.
She was received with the old smile at
the Governors office, but waited patiently
for her interview with the Governor him
self, who had almost declined to see her.
Her letter produced astonishing results.
The prosecutor withdrew the charge. The
real thief had been arrested, and had sub
mitted statements in regard to the theft
that showed that Tony Hardscrabble had
Mt hnn cd no af nd
other documents were inclosed with the
formal recommendation for pardon by
the Judge and prosecutor. They joined
heartily inspraise of Mrs. Undesirable,
and hoped the Governor, in view OF the
persistent efforts of the woman, and in
view of the extraordinary circumstances
of the case, would waive all formalities,
grant an immediate pardon, and allow
the woman to take her husband home
with her.
The proof of the mans innocence was
so plain the statements were so clear, that
the Governor hesitated 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 audi
ence-room, and, sad and almost disheart-
ened, she waited while glad news flew in
the other room. When the Governor
came to her he held in his hand parch-
"Mrs. Hardscrabble, the documents
presented to-day establish your husbands
innocence. l thought you might like to
carry the pardon to him yourself. Here
it is, and l only hope he is worthy OF his
wife"
The good woman's face trembled like
her own baby's when about to cry. She
dropped on her knees, caught the Gov
ernor's hand and covered it with kisses,
oh had off in ar. III
her baby. Then came an outpouring of
thanks.
"Your husband is innocent. L do
my simple duty. No thanks are due to
me-"
"But must thank some one"
Then, clutching the pardon, she flew to
the penitentiary. In less than an hour
she was dragging her daZed and awe
stricken husband through the Capitol cor
ridors to the Governors office, to present
him to that officer.
Tony was 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 prison
experience before him, was tremendous
fact. What would happen?
The Governor took him by the hand:
Now, my man, am glad this is as it is.
And am glad that you have such a wife.
Try the world again, and let me hear
from you"
That night Tony Hardscrabble's chill
dren clambered about him and awoke
in him hundred new sensations. He
had never seen such pretty baby, such
sweet little girls, such well-fOrmed,
healthy boys. And they were all his. He
would try the world again, and he laughed
as he thought how he would astonish the
people.
The shop was open the next morning
and Tony was at work. How his veins
swelled over the motion of free man!
The story had been told and retold, and
Tony was the hero of the hour Every
body had something TO say about his
wife. She was clearly Judging from the
evidence offered, which Tony accepted
without question: the best woman in the
neighborhood, and Tony was very proud
of her.
For few weeks affairs moved in the
old way at Tony's. Then, one Sabbath,
there was departure. Tony and his
wife and children went to church. This
was their first appearance and Tony was
complimented. He declared they needn't
make any fuss over him. He didn't care
for church, but his wife did. She had
remained at home good many years to
please him, and now he was attending
church to please her. He was n hard