The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1883-06-07

SAAtAA E50hs 4AAC WIG anu lEL UONs anu
girls kept close to their home, gTieving
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 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 an application would be made for
the pardon Of Tony Hardscrabble This
the people deliberately and emphatical-
~ frowned upon, and comparatively few
signed the petition, although it was pre-
sented TO every man in the neighbor-
hood by Mrs. II. herself.
Everybody was now talking about
. Tony's wife. She was constantly 90
hing. There were hints that she or her
lawyer had found new points of evil
dence. During the wear 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 it in going to and
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-
nounced her crazy, but their grand
motherly old eyes were tender as they
said it, and they thought it was a 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 husband.
Mrs. HaFdscrabble had been to the
Governors office eighteen times, carry
ing each time some new atom of evil
dence, some new suggestion from her
lawyer, some fresh concession from the
Judge or prosecuting attorney, an adj
ditional 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
sympathy even while her facts
were considered unimportant. She
went the nineteenth time with 2 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
ernor 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
ments in regard to the theft that showed
that Tony Hardserabble- had not been
The affidavits and other
4
for pardon by the
Judge and prosecutor. They Joined /
heartily in praise of Mrs Hardserabble. /
and hoped the Governor, in view of the +
persistent efforts of the woman, and in /
Wow of the extraordinary circumstances /
OF the case, would waive all fOrmalities, 7
grant an Immediate pardon, and allow /
the woman to take her husband home !
with her.
The proof Of the mans innocence was I
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 husband ) release. /
She was to wait moment in the audi /
ence-room, and, sad and almost dis I
heartened, she waited while glad news /
flew in the other room. When the Gov |
ernor came to her, he held in his hand /
a IldIGnIllCni- anu lHDcHJ TO saw
Mrs. HardScrabble, the documents |
presented to-day establish your hus-
band $ innocence. / thought YOU might /
like to carry the pardon to him your
self Here it is, and | only hope he is |
worthy of his wife.
The good woman's face trembled like
hen own baby when about to cry. She
dropped ON her knees, caught the Gov
ernOr hand and covered il with kisses
as she had often, in her loneliness, kissed
her babe Thencame an outpourng of
thanks.
"EOur husband is innocent / do my
simple duty. No thanks are due 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-struck husband through the Capt.
tol corridors to the Governors office, to
present him to that officer
Tony was overwhelmed by conffic TING
and tremendous emotions. He was free.
His wife had done it. He knew that.
She had held the pardon under his ewes.
and he had taken her in his arms, and
had given her the first genuine, full
kiss of his life. He had always
liked her, and had always been kind to
her rs he understood Kindness But he
lad never known her. She pulled him
along as though he were q boy She,
who had never been a mile from home,
knew the Governor. This, to Tony,
With his prison experience before him,
vas tremendous fact. What would
lappen? .-.
The Governor took him by the hand. IF
"NOw, my man, am glad this is as
Is it is. And l am glad that you have
uch a wife. Try the world again and
ct me hear from you"
That night Tony Hardscrabble's chill
Iren clambered about him and awoke
n him a hundred new sensations. He
lad never seen such a pretty baby, such
wcet little girls. such well-formed.
healthy boys. And they were all his.
lie would try the world again. and he ;
aughed as he thought how he would
stonish- the people. ..- !
The shop was open the next morning,
nd Tony was at work. How his veins :
welled over the motion of a free man! ;
The story had been told and retold, and :
'ony was the hero Of the hour. Every :
ody had something to say about his
rife. She was clearly Judging from
he evidence offered. which Tony ac- =.
opted without question: the best wom- !
n in the neighborhood, and Tony was \
erv proud of her.
T,,v d, e.,,,- ,-,,,1-.. d, a, =. ----.-