Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-06-26
spilled blood has been accomplished,
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spilled blood has been accomplished,
and the Union restored
For nearly an hour Mr.. Lincoln re-
manned with his face buried in his
hands, lost in deep, painful thought,
and then with a heavy sigh shook Off
his troubles and went into the ballroom.
I went with him, and he was soon the
center of laughing, joyous crowd, and
seemed to be the most careless and hap
ply In all that joyous throng"
"What kind of a man was Mr.. Lin
coin p | asked.
"The most soft-hearted, stronghold
ed man | ever knew" answered Mrs.
Temple. "a man of the noblest I'M
pulses, which he had to rein in all the
time. A pitiful story always touched
him-so much so that it was found ne
cessary to keep the relatives of men
convicted by court-martial away from
him. for, in spite of the necessity of
discipline, Mr.. Lincoln often pardoned
| soldiers who were condemned to death
for grave offenses. He hadn'ta particle
of Yindictive feeling about him, and
cherished no luminosity against the
southern people, so he has told me a
| hundred times. There were many roy
ally beautiful women there that night.
and fairer scene the lights never shone
upon. The band had just commenced
to play one of Strauss waltzes, and
while | WAS standing by the door, q
locker on in Vienna
TURNED AND SAW JOHN WILKES BOOTH.
! He had but few moments before re-
turned from Ford's Theatre, where he
had been acting. He came over to me.
| noticed that he looked very angry and
very much excited, and | asked him the
cause. He pointed to couple circling
seemed to be oblivious of everything
in the world. Their movements were
perfect-tne maidens head almost rest
ed on the youths shoulder, and, with
her eyes half closed, she listened to the
earnest, tender words that her compan-
ion was pouring into her ear. 1t was
Bessie Hale and Robert Lincoln. As
he witnessed this scene, Booths white
teeth clenched over the mustache and
his face grew very white, while his eyes
blazed like fire. He. caught me by the
arm with a grasp that made me vince,
and caused me to utter an involuntary
cry, and Kissed into my ear:
"Mrs. Temple. see that damned vii
lain? On, could kill him-ond his
father, too; and, by the Lord of Hosts,
the sands of his life are fast running
OUT
"What do you mean?' [ asked him,
thoroughly startled by his manner and
words.
ooh, nothing he said, recovering
himself, Only the man had better never
been born than to come between me
and my love. Bessie loves me, I'll
swear; but what between her people
and his, they will dispose of her as a
lamb led to the slaughter.
4 am Sorry for you, Mr.. Booth, said
my husband, who. standing beside me.
had listened to his words.
Booth turned fercely and disdain-
| fully around to him-for he never liked
my husband-and said: Sir, I would
rather be Action, chased and devoured
by his own beagles, than to be like
Lazarus, and have his wounds licked
by dogs out Of pity
HE left us abruptly and went out of
the room, and we saw him no more
that night.
a told Bessie Hale Of this scene, and
she was at first distressed about it, and
| then cot mad, as woman always does
when she don't know what to do, and
and hirted openly with Robert Lin
coin, much to that young mans de-
light.
1.-The next morning we all awaited
Booths coming anXiously, and Bessie
sat in my parlor until dinner expecting
him; but not then, nor that whole day,
did he make his appearance. -.
"Another day passed, and still anoth-
er came and went, but no signs of Booth.
Instead -,
ROBERT LINCOLN CAME -at.
regularly, and bybreakfast-time most
exquisite bouquet of flowers from the
White House conservatory would al
ways be sent to Bessie; and Robert
Lincoln pressed his suit boldly and ar
IDENTIFY. [ think she was piqued at
Booths silence, for she gave Robert
much encouragement, and his visits be-
came longer and more frequent" ..,,.-
Zone day, about week after the
ball, as the two were sitting alone to-
rgether in. my parlor, John Wilkes
walked abruptly in, and sitting down
with only slight nod Of recognition to
both, took a book and commenced to
read: An. hour passed on, and his rival,
seeing that Booth was determined to sit
him out. got up, made his adieu, and
left the field open. Bessie told me. at
terWard that she was much incensed at
his behavior; and gave him piece of
her mind. He retorted; she grew more
angry, he more curt and contemptuous.
she recriminated sharply, and then he,
losing his temper flung himself with a
muttered curse out of the room"
"she cried often and bitterly over
this misunderstanding and would have
sent for him but that her pride withheld
her." 49,. 4....--.,. -. ,v.t.-,s e...-.
. Matters were at this state for some
time. The long winter passed away,
the long days came and went, each