The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1874-06-18

her. Others hOnored her for her faith |
in her husband and for her affection, al
though they doubteG not for a moment
that Tony Hardscrabble was guilty as
charged. Tue wife and her boys and
girls kept close to their home, grieving
as for husband and father dead. After
a 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 since her marriage, went to
the state capital. Few of the men would
undertake such a journey. Tony's wife
received the compliment of being
plucky woman. In due time a notice
appeared in the county paper that in
application would be made for the par
don of Tony Hardscrabble. This the
people deliberately and emphatically
frowned upon, and comparatively few
signed the petition, although it was
presented to every man in the neighbor.
hood by Mrs. H. herself.
Everybody was now talking about
Tonys 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 gov rnor
twelve times with her plea for pardon,
and was met with refusal every time.
And yet she persisted. She went ont
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 worse than
useless. She rarely made any reply ex'
cept to protest that her husband was iu-
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
Hardscrabblc should have such a fine
woman for n wife. And while they
praised the wife they abused the hus'
band.
Mrs Hardscrabble had been to the
governors office eighteen times, carry
ing each time some new atom OF evil
dence, some new suggestion from hei
lawyer, some fresh concession from the
Judge or prosecuting attorney, an add
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
personal interview, and aroused sympa
thy even while her facts were considered
unimportant. She went the nineteenth
time with sealed letter from the pros
ecuting attorney. She was received
with the old smile at the governors Of
fee, but waited patiently for her inter
view with the governor himself, wht
had almost declined TO see her. He
!. letter produced astonishing results
The prosecutor withdrew the charge
+ The real thief had been arrested, anC
had submitted statements in regard t.
the theft that showed that Tony Hard
scrabble had not been concerned. Ih
aflidavits and other documents were IN
I closed with the formal recommendation
, for pardon by the Judge and prosecution
: They Joined heartily in the praise c
Mrs. Hardscrab5le, and hoped the GOV
/ ernor, in view of the persistent effort
D of the woman, and in view Of the extra
9 ordinary circumstances of the cast
9 would waive all formalties, grant a
n immediate pardon, and allow the woma
n to take her husband home with her.
s The proof of the mans innocence wa
d SO plain, the statements were so clea
Y that the governor hesitated not to lol
,r in the plan 20 surprise the woman wi
% had so worked for her husbands r
h lease. She was asked to wait momel
It in the audenca- room, and, sad and a
8 most disheartencd, she waited viii
{. clad news flew in the other room. Wh'
d the governor came to her he held III h
8. band n parchment, and unbent to SAY
rt "Mrs. Hardscrabble, the documen
a presented to-day establish your hu
re bands innocence. ] thought You mig
le like to carry the pardon to him yourse
Here it is, and | only hope he is wortl
OF of his wife.
le The good woman's face trembled Ii
" her own baby's when about to cry. )
lie dropped on her knees, caught the g
H. crnor's hand and covered it with Nss'
n. as she had often in her loneliness kiss
Up her baby. Then came an outpourlng
e, thanks.
fe "Your husband is innocent. ] do I
ed simple duty. No thanks are due
ed me-"
Id "But must thank some one.
ad Their, clutching the pardon, she fl
AS to the penitentiary. In less than
Id hour she was dragging her dazed a
awestricken husband through the capi
n. corridors to the governors office, to p
m sent him to that officer.
,ot Tony was overwhelmed by confli
no ing and tremendous emotions. He
,rs free. His wife had done it. He kn
he that. She had held the pardon un'
np his ewes, and he had taken her in
Did arms and had given her the first &c
tch inc, full-meaning kiss of his life.
inc had always liked her and lad alw
he been kind to her, as he understt
,rk kindness. But he had never kno
son her. She pulled him along as thor
;ell he were boy. She, who had ne
of been mile from home, knew
ING governor. This, to Tony, with
ms, prison experience before him, was
his tremendous fact. What would happ
on The governor took him by the han
ant "Now, nv man, | am glad this is
uts. it is. And | am glad that You b
r as such a wife. Try the world again,
the let me hear from You" -,
a That night Tony Hardscrabl
children clambered about him
uire avoke in him hundred new Sc
and tions. He had never seen such pr
ken, baby, such sweet little girls, such
,een formed healthy boys. And they
that all his. He would try the world az
,een and he laughed as he thought no"
,ny's would astonish the people.
was The shop was open the next NOR
nina. and Tony was at work. How his
| not swelled over the motion OF Tree n
unty The story had been told and retol,di'
e. he Tony was the her, of the hour, L,
item body had something to say, soou'