Evening star., 1928-05-15
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
BIZ EMILIA PARDo-BAzAN
THE PARDON

Emilia Pardo-Bszan, 1sS1.192I. was
Spanish author and playwright Of eome
America ss ss psrhap. sSs she e Ss saocn IN
Antonia was a laundress, poor
woman, and oppressed with haunting
fear that made her tremble by day and
sleepless by night. She had baby boy
and she feared for him as much as fpf
herself. For her husband was serving
q 20-year prison sentence for n1xfder
and she lived in constant dread 5eSt he
be pardoned and come back and KIN her
also.
For 1t was no ordinary crime that
AntOnia's cruel husband had commit
ted. He had been a butcher. and it
was Antonia's own mother he had slain.
with . cleaver-or so people said
shortly after they were first married.
The man knew his mother-in-iaw had
some wealth In chest and he killed
her, Il seemed, 50 he could gain possess
sion Of the money and jewels.
The evidence at the trial was not
conclusive. Every one said the man
should have been hanged. for ali
thought him terrible murderer. But
the court sentenced him To only 20
years, and there was always the possi-
hility OF pardon by the King especially
~ the King wished to celebrate some
special event.
Every one pitied poor Antonia. who
was 50 afraid lest her husband return.
For he had vowed vengeance because
Antonia had turned against him and
had not taken his side at the trial. He
had vowed that when he got out Of
prison he would come back and kill
her--or 50 Antonia said, though she
could not prove IL. If she could have
proved II she might have had the pro-
lection Of the Law: as IL was, 1t seemed
20 be none OF the laws business. II
her husband served his sentence, or
was pardoned. he could rightfully come
back and claim her for his wife. And
ene would have 10 live with him, even
II ne did kill her old mother.
T1as constant dread was making An
tonia old Sometimes it seemed 10
her tnat her heart would stop its beat
Ing. sometimes she wished il would
Then came the celebration OF the
Kings wedding. II was sure TO be the
occafion for pardoning several criminals.
kuu1Or came that Antonias husband
would be among those released. Later.
bowfTeT, IL was learned that his SEN
tenck was shortened, but that he still
nad some years To serve.
O1 course, the King thought he was
being nercifuL IT never crossed his
man4 that by pardoning criminal he
n1igHE De condemning some one else 10
GesEF, or even that he might be throw
ing tonae poor woman into abiect terror
Inaf was the way IL was with AYltonia.
noNRver, and when the King had a
daughter born 10 him she was afraid
nlorf than ever that her husband would
De Hfnoned among the next gfoup yho
rece4Fed the clemency of the King.
~ AFRAID was she that she locked
herSen In her house and sat for hours
on . low chair before the hearth. If
s1e was TO be killed. II might as well
happen quickly Only the Complaining
VOC. oi her little boy reused her.
"a mamma, I'm hungry" said the boy.
an5DMh' u some one coning7"
~ i@at on bright slinshiny morn
Mlk. AHIonla reused herself and taxing
some soiied clothing went 10 w0rk ebs
Nent 70 tfae public washing place 10
mani interested q4eSti0nerg she ansz,eys
&c only yes or no, Her eyes stared ~
Hae soapy water ~ though ghe did moi
see ~, and she did not seem Ia I,osioe
Wnsn some 0f IL spiashed into her fec,
Ifaen tfere came 10 the laundry son,e
uflFkpsctso news. II WAS altDeefIaer
ufliooked for, No one seesned Ia knns,
VINO brought II. but IL came. ii arrived
suht - AUofilh WAS starting for home
Pefnsps some one just meant 10 he
klnd Perhaps 1T was sn accidental
tuAlof, Wit1out real foundation. No one
1IEs, Eut Hie Tunof came from
somewhere that Antonis'g Is husband wss
dead, that he had died or, fle veTy
eye NJ PARDON. The poor lslndfees. for
years 50 stricken with fesr, pslt her
haao quickly 70 her heart and fell In 4
sSoon on the vel floor.
THE comments exchanged were fast
and confused
Us he really dead7"
Who told your"
Can We be suFeS"
i heard u st the market"
: Is there eny proof2"
Tie Eilopkeeper told me"
'My husband says u is true"
Who tod yQgT apsba1o2"