The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-08-09

~OOPiO Wtfo agreed that M
goI what ne deserved, but they wert
sorry Ior his wife. She was left with
SIX children, and it was too bad. Man,
Oh tne good women of the neighborhooc
could no. find it In their hearts to heir
her, as she persisted in asserting bel
husbands innocence. She chung to the
man with what these practical women
considered o nonsensical, romantic af.
iectlon, and they had no patience with
ner. others hOnOred her for her faith
IN her husband and for her affection. al.
though they doubted not for a monent
that Tony Hardscrabble was guilty. as
charged. The wife and her bows and
girls kept close to their home, orievinq
as Tor husband and father dead. After
few weeks Mrs. Hardscrabble was
seen abroad, then st the county seat.
ana then, wonder of wonderSi this
woman, who had never been mile
from home since her marriage. went 10
the State Capital. Few OF the men
would undertake such q tourney
Iony wife received the compliment Of
being plucky woman. In due time q
notice appeared in the county paper
that an application would be made for
the pardon OF Tony dardscrabble. This
the people deliberately and emphatical-
" froWned upon, and comparatively few
signed the petition, although it was pre-
sented to every man in the neiohbor-
hood by Mrs. FL. herself.
Everybody was now talking about
Tony's wife. She was constantly 90
Ing. There were hints that she or her
lawyer had found now points of evil
oence During the year 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 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. Hardscrabble 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
a /. personal interview, and aroused
sympathy even while her facts
We're considered unimportant. She
went the nineteenth time with sealed
letter from the prosecuting attorney.
She was received with the old smile at
the Governors 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 I
that Tony HardscrabbIe had not been
concerned. The affidavits 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 of the extraordinary circumstances
OF the case, would waive all formalties,
grant an immediate pardon, and allow
the woman to take her husband home
with her.
The proof of the man innocence was
20 plain, the. statements were SO clear,
that the Governor hesitated not to Join
u the plan to surprise the woman who
had so worked for her husband release.
She was TO wait moment in the audi
and, sad and almost dis
1eartened, she waited while glad news
lew in the other room. When the Gov
,rnor came to her, he held in his hand
parchment, and unbent to say:
Mrs. Hardscrabble, the documents
presented to-day establish your. hus-
,and's innocence. / thought you might
Ike to carry the pardon to him your
elf. Here 1t is, and I only hope he is
worthy of his wife,
. The good woman's face trembled like
Ter own baby's when about to cry. She
lropped on her knees, caught the Gov
rnor's hand and covered it with kisses,
s she had often, in her Loneliness, kissed
Ter babe. Then came an outpourlng of
hanks.
Your husband Is innocent. do nv
nipple duty. No thanks are due me. .
but must thank some one"
Then clutching the pardon, she few
D the penitentiary. In less than an
our she was dragging her dazed and
husband through the Capt.
d corridors to the Governors Office, to
resent him to that officer.
Tony was overwhelmed by conHic ting
nd tremendous emotions. He was free.
Lis wife had done it. He knew that. I,
he had held the pardon under his eyes,
nd he had taken her In his arms, and
ad given her the first genuine, full ,
leaning kiss of his life. He had always ,
ked her, and had always been kind to !
er, as he understood kindness. But he :
sd never known her. She pulled him !
lOTyfr &c {br,,sarh he H.