The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-06-25
THE GOVERNORS PARDON.
BY A. w. ROLKER.

Copyright, 1906, by Joseph B. Bowles.O
 My friend. Rae, the governors pri- yate secretary. told me this story after dinner in Albany.
 Did you happen to notice the two little girls as you passed through the waiting room to the governors pri- vate office this afternoon ?" he asked.
 had noticed them. None could have helped but notice them in deep- est mourning; sadmouthed, sensitive, motherly, gentle children that they were.
 These little shavers are the children or Schoheld. You must recall Harold Schoheld, down in Sing Sing. the cash Ter of whom they made a scapegoat month ago for the smash of the Tenth National? And bless me, if the young sters hadn't come to beg the governor to pardon their dad" Rae gave a short harsh laugh.
 "of all things and of all men. to try to beg pardon of the governor of New York; he resumed, Cad, but I felt sorry for them. Why, they had about as much chance as a snow ball on red hot stove You know your self what the governor Is. He's straight as string. honest the day is long, and just-if it isn't blasphemy-next to the Almighty Himself, and you can put that down where you won't forget it. But that is where everything ends He has no more human feeling in him that block of granite. His heart is chilled iron Tales of distress irritate him. Tears harden him.
 Odd man Shaw, the governors ste- nographer, who was a neighbor of the Schohelds, started the trouble. He should have known better But the case really was a desperate one. and, suppose, he lost Judgment, even as did
 He came into my ofice, one hand nn tha ShnU1Hnr nf a tie girl the other holding the waxlike fingers of her elder sister.
 :" Major Rae Shaw began, I've done a risky thing But I'm playing for stake that means very much to these little women They are two very lone ly, sad children Their name is Scho- field They want to see you because told them that in all the world no one could help them, only you.
 The wrinkle on the secretary's fore head deepened. He slowly shook his head. Then he continued:
 Its bad enough to have a father come to you and lay his most secret feelings bare, to see him as he looks you hopelessly in the eyes, wondering if you're going to hit him when he's down. It's bad enough to have to lis ten to the story. knowing all the time you've simply got to turn him down It's four times worse to have mother come to you and tell you the inmost secrets of her soul, and to break into bs and tears and try to go down on her knees and kiss your hand. But here were two shy, pretty. innocent little gentle children!
 So you've come to talk to me? l asked
 "'Yeth," Iisped the smaller one with a covert glance at her elder sister, n Merthy, too" she added.
 With full red lips twitching and tears in the dark blue eyes. Mercy looked me straight in tine face. We want our papa back! Oh. give us our papa back" she cried. and burylng her burning cheek against my hand, all self control fled the brave little soul and she cried as if her heart would break.
 shaw swallowed hard and came to the rescue.
 "Gtve them a chance he begged l know the whole sad story from % %eno to end These two little ones were born and raised next door to me. II ever the clutch of law fell sharper than meant, it is in this case. Then he told the story.
 He began with the happy home