The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-06-26


useless. She rarely made any reply ex
cept to protest that her husband was 10.
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
tender as they said it, and they thought
it was shame that such man as Tony
Hardscrabble should have such a fine
woman for a wife. And while they
praised the wife they abused the hus
band.
Mrs. Hardserabble had been to the
governors office eighteen times, carry
ing each time some neg atom of evi-
| dence, some new suggestion from her
lawyer, some fresh concession from the
| Judge or prosecuting-attorn an addi-
tional name from the jury before whom
the case was tried. She haunted the
governors Office and the offices of the
prison authorities. She ALWAYS had q
personal interview, and aroused sympa.
| thy even while her facts were considered
rlnimportant. She went the nineteenth
time with sealed letter from the pros
ecuting attorney. She was received
with the old smile at the governors Of
flee, but waited patiently for her inter
view with the governor himself, 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 submitted statements in regard to
the theft that showed that Tony Hard
scrabble had not been concerned. The
affidavits and other documents were in
closed with the formal recommendation
for pardon by the Judge and prosecutor.
They joined heartily in the praise of
Mrs. Hardscrab5le, and hoped the gov
ernor, in view of the persistent efforts
of the woman, and in view of the extra
ordinary 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 re-
lease. She was asked to wait moment
in the audience-room, and, sad and al
most disheartened, she waited while
glad news flew in the other room. When
the governor came to her he held in his
udI1tS anu uuUGuJ ~ say
"Mrs. Hardscrabble, the documents
presented to-day establish your hus-
bands innocence. I 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 trembled like
her own baby's when about to cry. She
dropped on her knees, caught the gov
3,
as she had often in her loneliness kissed
her baby. Then came an outp0uring of
thanks.
"Your husband is innocent. I do my
simple duty. No thanks are due to
me-"
"But I must thank some one"
Then, clutching the pardon, she few
to the penitentiary. In less than an
hour she was dragging her dazed and
awestricken husband through the capitol
corridors to the governors Office, to pre-
sent him to that officer.
Tony was overwhelmed by conflict |
ing 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 genu- |
had always liked her and had always |
kindness. But he had never known |
her. She pulled him along as though |
he were a boy. She, who had never
been mile from home, knew the
governor. This, to Tony, with his
tremendous fact. What would happen?
~ ! l. l. I,
"NOw, my man, I am glad this is as
It is. And l am glad that you have
such wife. Try the world again, and
ct me hear from you"
That night Tony Hardscrabble's
children clambered about him and
lwOke in him hundred new sensa-
ions. He had never seen such a pretty
oaby, such sweet little girls, such we'll
ormed healthy boys. And they were
III his. He would try the world again,
md he laughed as he thought how he
would astonish the people.
The shop was open the next morning
md Tony was at work. How his veins
'welled 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
VIE ouS WIS CltdEIy NIutSluB 1IOH |
he evidence offered, which Tony accep-
ed without question: the best woman
n the neighborhood, and Tony was very
proud of her.
For a few weeks affairs moved in
lie old way at Tony's. Thel one Sab
bath, there was a departure. Tony and
lis wife aud children went to church.
his was their first appearance, and
II |
hey needn't make any fuss over him.
lie didn't care for church, but his wife
lid. She had remained at bone a good
many years to please him, and now he
vas attending church to please her. He
lis children to be like their mother,
md he guessed they would anyhow.
But he was going to help her now. And |
hen Tony would drop his voice
"Just think of it She made nine
cen trips to get me out of that scrape, |
md spent ninety-five dollars, all of
which money she raked together her
elf. By jinks, I get to thinking about
t sometimes when I am at work, and /
,ound a horseshoe all to flinders before
know what I am doing. She's a won
lerful woman, sir, and-and she's my
wife. She can run the boat to suit her
elf now, sir"
Tony meant what he said. His wife's
was the controlling one at
he Corners. In time there was carpet
n the floors, and then, wonder of won
ers to Tony common but pretty
,attern of paper on the walls. Tony
'ecame Jack all-trades to his wife.
Couldn't he make picture-frames,
rackets, and other ornamental and USE
nj articles for the house ?" OF course
e could, and he took great delight in its
lie couldn't sit down and tell his wife,
q words, how much he was surprised
{ her better self, nor how grateful ne
cit, nor how much he loved her, but
e could work it ont, and all his spare
ime has devoted to doing things that ,
e imagined she wanted done. He was
imple and awkward in springing his
urprises on her, or in discovering what :
he desired, but the very simplicity of {
is action made his acts the more pleas 5
Mt and touching to his wife.
Tony became proud of his house. He :
7ould shoe horse with the old skill ,
nd carefulness as to det lis, and would !
ak as much while doing it, but now I