The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-07-26

great admiration for Lincoln's brains and
noble qualities The esteem was mutual
and it is no stretch of the truth to say that
for years Lincoln exercised nndisputed
control of the columns of The Journal him
self Whatever he wrote or had written
went into the editorial page without ques-
ton.
Mrs. Francis, sharing her husband s
views of Lincoln's glorious possibilities
and desiring to do Mary Todd a kindly
act, determined to bring about reconcil-
iation She knew that Miss Todd had
by letter a few days after that fatal 1st
of January, 1884," as Lincoln styled it,
released him from the engagement, and
that since then their relations had been
strained, if not entirely broken Off As
she viewed it, marriage between man
as promising in the political world as Lin
coin and woman as accomplished and
brilliant in society as Mary Todd would
certainly add to the attractions of Spring
field and reflect great credit on those who
brought the union about. She was a great
social entertainer, and one day arranged a
gathering at her house for the express
purpose of bringing these two people to-
gether. Both were invited and both at
tended, but neither suspected the Others
presence. Having arranged things SO in
geniously and with so much discretion, it
was no difficult task for the hostess to
bring the couple together by warm in
PRODUCTION and the encouraging admoni-
ton, BE friends again" Much to the
surprise of both, they found the web WOW
en- around them. They entered into the
spirit of the reconciliation and found Mrs.
Francis roof an inviting place for many
succeeding meetings. A wall reared itself
between them and the past, and they
started again under the suspicious omens
of another engagement. The tact of
woman and the diplomacy of society had
accomplished what love had long since
despaired of ever doing or seeing done
The meetings in the parlor of Mrs.
Francis house were conducted with no
little privacy. At first even Mrs. Edwards
knew nothing of it, but presently it came
to her ears. Il asked Mary" said this
lady, "why she was so secretive about it.
She said evasively that after all that had
occurred it was best to keep the courtship
from all eyes and ears. Men and women
and the whole world were uncertain and
slippery, and if misfortune befell the en-
eagement all knowledge of it would be
hidden from the world. "
Married to Miss Todd,
1t is unnecessary to prolong the account
of this strange and checkered courtship.
The Intervention OF the affair with Shields
in no way impeded if It did not hasten
the marriage. One morning in November,
Lincoln, Fastening to the room OF his
friend James H. Matheney before the lat
ter had arisen from bed, informed him
that he was to be married that night, and
L 60 ach hast That
,sama morning Miss Todd called on her
friend Julia NJ. Jayne, who afterwaro
married LYMAN Trumbull, and made a
similar request. The Edwardses were no.
.ifIed and made such meager preparations
as were possible on so short notice. License
was obtained during the day, the minis
Xsr Charles n. Dresser, was sent for, and
a. ia evening of Nov. 4, 1912, las pale
ma trembling as if being driven to slaugh-
ter" Abraham Lincoln was as iaS' A""i
ried to Mary Todd
60 ,reat trial of his life was now over,
"a another still greater one was yet 60
80 To me it has always seemed plain
~. NJ Idncoln married Mary Todd to
sn his honor. and in doing that he sac
Ia his domestic peace. He had search
"a himself subjectively, introspectiyely'
S,ablv He knew he did not love her,
al frfn-
no had promised to marry her! Inc
F S,de on thought came up like a night
AZ the fatal LIST of January,
ma Isat - neared the clouds around him
biackened the heavens and his lie oo almost tSe
s,,t ont with the storm. But soon 'ne
w. Cleared. Friends interposed theli
s ssa - avert a calamity, and at last nc b.
e.u t1co tn face with the great connlc'
s ssGUn honor and domestic peace e. II. III
uSo"e the former, and with it years OF sen sen
t torsur e. sacrical panss and the loss Tor
ever of happy home; ,notive bn-
With Miss Todd alneten nrnmnted bel
80 eoually as Unfortunate proinpVeu nc ie
one ~ to the union. To marry LIN
adm adRsTen esnt not life of luxury and ease
society society in the T B@ sha sna sn
gTando.t social dis5ln's be satisfied Unit