The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-01-04
TIE Lincoln Love Romance.
Springfield ulliuois) Correspondence Boston At
yCr;isar.

| cpIIS hSAu 'A''''>'''
vcrsar.
Too impatien, to wait for the slow and
! faithful work, which is the only work that
Mr.. Ucrndon can do, Springfield demand
cd. meanwhile, course Of five lectures.
There are two millions Of people in the
State of Illinois, and large portion Of
them know in some fashion al the facts
these iiye lectures treat. 1t was Mr.. HcTn-
dou's business to put these facts toto al
order which would force them 10 illustrate
each other. The lectures do not constitute
,.y ellie" he is 10 publish: they are only
studies towards il. The lecture which the
ijrgrtiSer has criticised is, | believe, the
fourth Of the five, and supplies 4 necessary
link in the history. It could 10 more be
lief, ont OF true life OF Lincoln than
Daote's love for Beatrice, Or PeTarcn'S
love for Laura, or Shclley's divorce from
his first vile could bc omitted in the
Uncertainties of those poets, and still leave
,h,'m Ineligible. For thirty years after
tbe period il describes, his terrible sorrow
continued to move him at times out OF NM
self. and it is the only explanation OF many
significant facts. The poem which is IN
seuarablv connected with his memory be-
came precious to him simply Tor Ann kut-
lodges sake.
There is the story; and Mr.. Hcrndon,
nearly twelve years Mr.. Lincoln's junior,
has no more to do with it than | have as
| tell it. Ann Rutlcdge was lady-one
of the very few who had penetrated to Hi
nos as early as 1893. OF family edu-
Gated and aristocratic, but broken down,
she was betrothed before Mr.. Lincoln ever
saw her to Il Scotch merchant. In those
DAYS Illinois was as far from New York as
Kamschatka now is. They were soon to
| be married, when the Scotchman went for
| business purposes to that city. For months
nothing was heard Of him ii was supposed
that he was dead or had wickcdly deserted
Ann. The truth was that he lay i'll OF de-
hrous fever at small waysidc town. In
this state of things, while AIMS mind was
| tortured 10y suspense and disappointment,
Mr.. Lincoln went TO her fathers house to
| board. In time 4 sort Of provisional en-
gagcment ensued. There were clrcum-
stances III both lives which depressed and
panied they learned to hold each other
very dear. Upon this state oi things broke
the rumor OF the recovered Scotchman's
return. The delicate nature OF the woman
| broke under it. Betrothed to two-both OF
whom she loved-Sht had no choice but TO
die she did not live TO see him enter New
Salem. How he who had been absent
loved her, let the sequel show. He bought
the farm for her sake, and lives there still
a bachelor. 1t was bis quivering hand that
pointed out to Mr.. Ucrndon the spot where
Ann Rutledgc died.
That this story is true know, for have
read every line of the autograph letters on
which it depends. That it is the truth, on
which the future life Of Mr.. Lincoln turn
ed, Mr.. Hcrndou will some time show us.
| Had Ann lived to be his wife, it is the
opinion of all his western friends that he
would never have sought political life.
His tastes were quiet and domestic. But
| this trial unhingcd him, made him for years
reckless, despairing, atheiStic. ii was very
| gradually that lie came to conquer the re-
| volt of his own soul. 1t was that work well
| done which fitted him to conquer other
men. | dare not pursue the subject far
Their than to say that Mr.. Herndon has a
task before him which for delicacy and
magnitude exceeds any Of which l have
ever dreamed. Mr.. Lincoln left no blood
relations but his sons. None of Ann Rut-
| lcdge's survive her. The unhappy Scotch
man who returned TO lind her dead saw
| every line Of the lecture which the ldrer-
Gse,. criticised before il was printed. |
| think few authors of modern times would
| have been honorable enough to ask his
consent, since ne was not ~ be named IN
| il; but Mr.. Herndon read the manuscript
| 10 me himself, and would never allow Inc
to speak OF it till it had passed that last re-
/ vision.
We must trust Mr.. Herndon because
| Abraham Lincoln trusted him. There IS
nothing in history more touching than
their dealings with each other. For more
than twenty-five years they were partners,
but never kept a separate account, held
each others money as they did their own,
and never suspected or experienced wrong ;
never had misunderstanding nor griev-
ance. When Mr.. Lincoln was about TO
leave for Washington, he went to the dingy
! little law-oilice which had sheltered his
saddest hours. He sat down on the couch.
BILLY" said he, "you and have been
together all these years, and have never
passed word Will you let my name
stay on the old sign till come back from
Washiugtonp The tears started TO Mr..
Herndon's eyes. He put out his hand !:
"Mr. Lincoln" said he, al will never
have any other partner while you live,"
and to the day of the assassination all the
doings of the firm were in the name OF
Lincoln 4 Hernd0n,