Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-06-08

hood by Mrs. III. herself.
Everybody wa, now talking about
Tony's wife. She was constantly co
ing. There were hints that she or her
lawyer had found new points Of evil
dence. During the year she went To the
Governor twelve times with her plea Tor
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 Tor
money. and spent IL in going To anu
from the State capital People reasoned
with her and tried To convince her 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 pro-
cured his release. The old ladies pro-
nounccd her crazy. but their grand
mothcrly old ewes were tender rs they
said il, and they thought it was shame
that such n man rs Tony Hardscrabble
should have such fine woman for a
wife. And while they praised the wife
they abused the husband.
Mrs IIardScrabble had been TO the
Governor Oi,ice eighteen times, carry
| ing each time some new atom Of evil
/ dcncc, some new suggestion from her
lawyer, some fresh concession from the
Judge or prosecuting attorney, an AL
| ditional name from the jury before
whom the case was tried. She haunted
/ the Governor Office and the offices OF
the prison authorities. She always had
n personal interview, and aroused
sympathy even while her facts
were considered unimpOrtant. She
went the nineteenth time with n sealed
letter from the prosecuting attorney.
She was received with the old smile at
the Governor Office, but waited pa
tiently for her Interview with the Gov
crnor himself. who had almost declined
To see her Her letter produced aston
/ ishing results. The prosecutor with
drew the charge. The real thief had
been arrested, and had submitted state
mcnts in regard To the theft that showed
that Tony Hardscrabblc had not been
concerned. The aflidavits and other
| documents were inclOsed with the formal
Recommendation for pardon by the
Judge and prosecutor. They joined
heartily in praise of Mrs. Hardscrabble,
and hoped the Governor, in view Of the
persistent efforts Of the woman, and in
/ view 1T 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 hcsitated not To Join
in the plan tO surprise the woman who
/ had so worked for her husband release.
/ She was To- wait u moment in the audi
cncc-roOm, and. sad and almost dis
heartcucd, she waited while glad news
/ llcw i'm the other room. When the Gov
Crnor came tO her. he held in his hand
a parchment, and unbcnt To say:
Mrs. Ilar,lscrabble. the documents
presented to-day establish your hus-
band innocence. / thought YOU might
like to carry the pardon To him your.
self. Here II is, and only hope he i:
worthy Of his wife"
The good wOman's face trcmbled like
her own baby when about to cry. Sh,
dropped ON her knees. caught the Gov.
/ crnOr's hand and covered il with kisses
n she had often, in her loneliness. kissc,
I her babe. Then came an UutpOurIng O
\ thanks.
Your husband l. innocent. do my
simple duty. No thanks are due me. y
But | must thank some one"
Then clutching the pardon, she flew
To the pcnitcntiary. In less than m
| hour she was dragging her dazed and
awc-struck husband through the Capt.
tel corridors to the Governors office, "a
present him Ia that officer
Tony was overwhelmed by conflic TING
and Tremendous, emotions. lie was free
/ Ills wife had done IT, lie knew that
/ She had held the pardon under his eyes
and he had taken her in his arms, ant
/ had given her the first genuine, full
meaning Kiss If his life. lie had alway,
liked her. and had always been Kind &c
her. ~ he understood kindness. But n,
had never known her. She pulled him
along n though he were u 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 q,
rs it is. And | am glad that YOU hav,
such - wife. Try the world again ant
let mo hear from YOU"
That night Tony Hardscrabblc's chill
drcn clambcrcd about him and awokc
in him hundred new sensations. III,
had never seen such pretty baby. sucl
sweet little girls. such wcll-formcd
healthy boys. And they were all his.
lie would try the world again. and Inc
laughed rs he thought how he would
aStonish the people.
The shop was open the next morning,
and Tony was ut work. How his vein,
swcllcd over the motion Of free man
The story had been told and rctold, 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 ac-
ccptcd without question: the best wom-
an in the ncighbOrhood, and Tony wa.
very proud of her.
For few weeks affairs moved i'm the
old way ut TOny's. Then. one Sabbath.
there was departure. Tony and hi.
wife and children went to- church Thi,
was their first appearance. and Tony
was confilimcntcd. He declared they
i utfhu iuihf buN lu>N tNtI MIN. lie
didn't care for church, but his wife did.
She had remained ut home good MANY
years To please him, and now he was
attending church To please her. He
was hard case himself. but he wanted
his children to be like their mother, and
he guessed they would be anyhow. But
he was going To help her now. And
then Tony would drop his voice:
Just think Of itl She made nineteen
trips to get me out Of the scraRr. and
spent ninety-ive dollars. all of which
money she scrapcd together herself BY
iinks, | get To thinking about il some
times when am at work. and pound q
horseshoe all 90 flinders before | know
what / am doing. She's n wonderful
woman. sir. and and she's my wife.
She can run the boat to suit herself
/ II