The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-05-29

/ grieving as for husband and father dead
| After few weeks Mrs. Hardserabble wa
seen abroad. then al the the county scat
and then. wonder Of wonders this woman
who had never been mile from her HON,
since her marriage, went 10 the State Capi
tai. Few Of the men would undertake
such ajourney. Tony's vile received the
compliment OF being plucky woman. In
due time notice appeared IN the county
! paper that an application would be made
4 for the pardon Of Tony Hardscrabble.
The people deliberately and emphatic
ally frowned upon, and comparatively few
signed the petition. although il was pre-
scented To every man i'm the neighborhood
BY Mrs. IA. 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
vet she persisted. She went out washing,
went OUT in butchering time, worked even
in the fields for money. and spent IL In go
ing 10 and from tile State Capital. People
reasoned with her and tried 10 convince
her that there was no hope; that all this
effort was worse than useless. She rarely
made any reply. except 10 protest that hX
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 pronounced
her crazy, but their grindmotherly old
eyes We're tender as they said il. and they
thought II was shame that such man
As Tony Har,lscrabble should have such a
fine woman for wife. And while they
praised the wife, they abused the hus-
band.
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 law
yer. some fresh concession from
the judge or prosecuting attorney.
an additional name from the jury
before whom the case was tried. She
haunted the Governors office and the Off
ces of the prison authorities. She always
had personal interview and aroused SYM
pathy even while her facts were considered
unimpHtant. She Went the nineteenth
time with sealed letter from the prose-
cutting attorney. She was received with
the old smile ri the Governors office. but
waited patiently for her Interview with
the Governor himself. who had almost de-
clined 10 see her. Her letter produced a.
toni>hing results. The prosecutor with
drew the charge. The real thief had been
arrested. and had submitted statements in
regard To the theft that showed that Tony
Hardscrabble had not been concerned The
Iffidavits and other documents were in
closed with the formal recommendation
for pardon by the Judge and prosecutor.
They joined heartily in praise Of Mrs.
and hoped the Governor. in
view OF the persistent efforts of the wo-
man. and IN view OF the extraordinary cir
OF the case. would waive all
grant an immediate pardon.
and allow the woman 10 take her husband
home with her.
The proof of the mans innocence was
40 plain. the statements were So clear. that
the Governor hesitated not to join in the
plan To surprise the woman who had 80
worked for her husbands release. She
was asked TO wait moment in the au-
iience-room. and. sad and almost disheart-
nned. she waited while Glad news flew i'm
he other room. When the Governor came
% her. he held in his hand a parchment.
md unbent TO say:
:" Mrs. Hardscrabblc. the documents pre-
'ented to-day establish your husbands in !
locence. l thought you might like to |
AIRY the pardon TO him yourself. Here
i. and only hope he Is worthy of his !
wife,
The good woman's face trembled like |
Ter own baby's when about To cry. She |
iropped on her knees. caught the Cover !
lor's hand and covered IL with kisses. AS |
he hal often, ia her loneliness. kissed |
ler baby. Then came an outpouring OF
hanks.
Your husband il innocent. 7 DO my
simple duty. No thanks are due me-
But must thank some one.''
Then clutchiDg the pardon. she flew to |
he penitentisry. In less than an hour she |
vas dragging her daZed and awe-struck !
husband through the capitol corridors to |
he Governors Office, TO present him to |
hat officer.
Tony was overwhelmed BY conflicting
md tremendous emotions. He was free. |
liz wife bad done it. He knew that.
'he had held the pardon under his eyes.
nd he had taken her in his arms and had
.iyen her the first genuine. full-meaning
iiss Of his life. He had always liked her
mi had always been kind 10 her. as he
Understood kindness. But he had never
inown her. She pulled him along as
hough he were boy. She. who had
ever been "A mile from home. know the
sovernor. This.to Tony. with his prison
Experience before him, was a tremendous
act. What would happens
The Governor took him by the hand:
Now. my man. am glad this l. as IL
!. And | sm glad that you have such a
life. Try the world again, and let me
ear from you"
That night Tony Hardscrabble's chill
rem clambered about him and awoke in
i'm hundred new sensations. He had
ever seen such pretty baby. such sweet
tile girls. such well-formed. healthy boys.
nd they were all his. He would try the
ord again. and he laughed IA he thought
ow he would astonish the people.
The shop was open the next morning.
nj Tony was at work. How his veins !
yelled over the motion Of free man ,