Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-01-27

uaent of that disastrous night, joined
the front rank of the strikers in
general mix-up and cracked the head
OF a deputy sheriff, the result was
what he might have eXpected-tWo
years in the penitentiary. That was
all right. The peace Of the Common
wealth must be preserved, and that is
why laws and penitentiaries exist, but
at sometimes goes hard with the moth
ers and wives. That is also to be ex-
pected, and the boy should have
thought Of it before he crowded to the
front of the angry mob or struck the
deputy. 1t went very hard with the
boys mother and wife. It went hard
with his old man, too. 1t Is cruel
thing to have ones only boy In the
penifentiary, even if one is only a
village bod carrier.
Maggie Murphy, the boys wife, did
not suffer for food or shelter after the
boy went to wear stripes, for old Mike
had handy little roll in the bank and
O shanty Of his own, and he took
Maggie into his home, and made Il
daughter Of her; but the girl grew
thin and had no spirits. She cried
good part Of the time, quite as If Tim
bad been a law-abiding citizen, in
stead OF a law-breaking rowdy. Then
cried more than ever.
As for the boys mother, it was to
DE expected that she should weep
also Mothers have a way Of weep
ing over the son they love, even if
re has gone wrong. 1t is not logical,
perhaps, but it is fact. 1t is one Of
abe grand facts of human life.
When Maggie's baby came the boys
mother could stand it no longer. 1t
had been urged-and there was some
evidence to support it-that the boy
had acted in self-defense. He said so
himself, but he admitted he had been
an the front rank. The strikers had
carried things with a high hand all
along, and the jury had decided
against him. Night and day the boys
mother begged the old man to try for
q pardon, but Mike knew it was not
worth a trial. The Governor was an
old man and a strong man, and not
one to forgive an injury done to the
State or to himself. He had never
been known to forget a wrong nor to
9eaVe a debt unpaid. He was a just
man, as the ancient Jews were just.
It was this that had made him Gov
ernor; his uncompromising righteous
ness and stanch fearlessness were
greater than cliques and BOSSES.
Old Mrs. Murphy, however, was only
a woman and the boy was her boy,
and she pardoned him. She knew he
was innocent, for he was her boy.
Mike refused a thousand times to ask
Abe Governor for a pardon, but as
Mrs. Murphy was the boys mother
and had a valiant tongue, the old man
changed his mind. One day he put on
his old silk hat, and, with Father
Maurice, the good gray priest, went
BP to the capital
strange pair they were to sit in
ane Governors richly furnished re-
eeption room-Mike, with his smooth
Nv shaVen face, red as the sunset, his
Snowy eyebrows, his white-fecked red
hair, and the shiny black Of his baggy
Sunday suit; Father Maurice, with his
Gong gray beard that had been his be-
anre the days of the smoothly shaver
Daiests, his kindly eyes and the jolly
rOtunllty Of his well-fed stomach. The
PRIESTS gentle heart was hopeful, but
Mike sat sadly with his eyes on the
toe OF his boot, for he knew the err
rand was folly, not alone because the
Governor had never pardoned q con-
aUMned man, but because it was he,
Mike Murphy, who came.
KIe remembered an incident Of his
called It, Think of it! He, Mike Muir
phy, had bullied the Governor; had
Arubbed him and chased him and wor-
yieG the life out of him. That was
why he had told the old woman it was
aO use to try it. Who was he to come
asking pardons, when years ago he
And done his best to make life miser-
able for the Qualling schoolboy who
was now the stern-faced Governor:
the Governor who never forgot nor
4orgave, nor left debt unpaid?
when the Governor entered the re-
reptiOn room he came in Unexpectedly,
M Father Maurice was leaning for
ward with one Of Mixes red hands
asasped in his two white ones. Mike
wns wiping his eyes with his coat
sleeve
The Governor paused in the door
way and cOughed. His visitors start
el in surprise, and then arose.
1t was Father Maurice who stated
fAeir errand, his scanned face turned
ppward to the serious eyes Of the
Governor, and as he proceeded, choos-
ang his quaint rrenchifec English