The herald., 1895-04-24

one of the woc!thiest and most influential
men of his time and locality. A portion
OF her schooling was obtained in a Cath
Ollie convent, though in religious faith she
was a Baptist According to description
furnished mo by herself, she "had fair
skin, deep blue eyes and dark curling
hair; height, 8 feet inches; weight, $50
pounds. She Yves good looking in girl
hood, by many esteemed handsome, but
became fleshier as she grew older. AT the
time of her second visit sho reached New
Salem on the day of the presidential cleo
ton, passing the polls where the men had
congregated, on the way to her sister
house
One of Miss Owens descendants is au-
thority for tho statement that Lincoln had
boasted that "if Mary Owens ever returned
to Illinois second time BIO would marry
herr" that report of this camo to her
ears, whcreupon she left her Kentucky
home with prcdetermination to show him
that she was not to be caught simply by
the asking On this second visit Lincoln
paid her more marked attention than be-
fore, and his affections became moro and
more enlisted In her behalf. His honesty
of purpose showed itself in all his efforts
to win her hand. He told her of his pow
erty, and whilo advising her that lifo with
him meant to her, who had been reared in
comfort and plenty, great privation and
sacrifice, yet he wished to secure her as
wife. She, however, felt that she did not
entertain for him the same feeling that he
professcd for her, and that she ought to
entertain before accepting him, and so de-
clined his offer. Judging from his letters
alone, 1t hos been supposed by some that
she, remembering the rumor she had heard
OF his determination to marry her, and
not being fully certain of the sincerity of
his purposes, may have purposely loft him
In tho earlier stages Of his courtship some
what in uncertainty. Later on, however,
when by his manner and repeated an
nouncement to her that his hand and
heart woro at her disposal, he demonstrate
ed the honesty and sincerity of his inton-
lions, she declined his offer kindly, but
with no uncertain meaning.
Tho first letter / received from Mrs.
Vineyard-for she was married to Jesse
Vineyard March 81, 1S41-was written at
Weston, No., May /, 1866 Among other
with my feelings have at last decided to
sond you the letters in my possession writ
ten by Mr.. Lincoln, believing as do that
you arc gentleman of honor and will
faithfully abide by all you have said My
associations with your lamentod friend
were in Menard county whilst visiting a
sister who then resided near Petersburg.
have learned that my maiden namo is
now in your possession, and you have ere
this no doubt been informed that am a
native Kcntuckian."
The letters written by Lincoln not re-
vealing enough details OF the courtship I
prepared q list Of questions for tho lady to
answer in order that the entire history of
their relations might be clearly shown. l
perhaps pressed her too closely in such a
delicate matter, for she responded in a
few days as follows:
WESTON, Mo-, May %. 1906.
Mr.. ". II. Herndon:
MY DEAR SIR-Really you catechise me in
true lawyer style. but feel you will have tho
goodness to excuse mo If decline answering
oil your questions in detail, being well assured
that few women would have ceded as much as
have under all the circumstances.
You say you have heard why our acquaint-
suce Terminated as it did. I, too, have heard
tho Same bit of gossip, but never used the re-
mark which Madam Rumor says did to Mr..
Lincoln. think did on one occasion say to
my sister, who was very anxious for us to be
married, that thought Mr. Lincoln was de-
acient in those little links which make up the
chain Of woman's hnppiness-at least it was SO
IN my case--not that believed it proceeded
from lack of goodness Of heart, but his train
Ing had boon different from mine; hence there
was not that congeniality which would other
wiso have existed.
From his own showing you perceive that his
heart and hand were ct my disposal, end / sup
pose that my feelings wero not sufficiently en-
listed to have the matter contaminated. About
tho beginning Of the year 1858 / left Illinois,
at which tirno our acquaintance and corre-
pondcncc ceased, without ever again being re-
moved.
Ny father, who resided in Green county,
KY, was gentleman Of considerable means
and am persuaded that few persons placed a
higher estimate on education than he did Re-
spectfully yours, MANY s. VINEYARD.
Tho reference to Lincoln S deficiency "in
those littlo links which mako up the chain
Of woman's Happiness is of no little sig
piflcnnce. 1t proved that his training had
indeed been different from hera In a
short time again wrote Mrs. Vineyard to
Inquire as to tho truth Of story current
IN Kew Salem that one day as sho and
Mrs. Bowlin Greene were climbing up the
uill to Ablcs house they were Joined by