The true northerner., 1895-05-31

a suitor for the hand of Miss Rutledge.
Lincoln had learned Of McNamar's :
strange conduct, and no doubt when he
began to pay her attentions she was the
most attractive young lady whom up TO
that time he had ever met She was not
only modest and winning in her ways
and full II good. womanly common
sense, but withal refined in contrast
with the uncultured people who sur
rounded both herself and Lincoln. "She
had secret, too and sorrow-the I'M
explained and painful absence of Nc
Namar-which no doubt made her all
the more interesting to him whose spirit
was often even more melancholy than
her own "
McNamar seems to have considered
Lincoln's bashfulness as proof against
the alluring charms of Miss Rutledge
or anybody else, for he continues:
"Nr. Lincoln was not to my knowl-
edge paying particular attention to any
of the young ladies of my acquaintance
when l left my home in New York.
There was no rivalry between us on that
score. On the contrary, had every rea-
son to believe him my warm personal
friend. But by and by was left so far
behind in the race / did not deem my
chnaces worthy of notice. From this
time forward he made rapid strides TO
that imperishable fame which Justly
fills world. "
A Pathetic Event.
Lincoln began to court Miss Rutledge
in dead earnest. AS he pleaded and
pressed his cause the Rutledges and all
New Salem encouraged his suit. Nc
Namar's unexplained absence and ap-
parent neglect furnished outsiders with
all the arguments needed to encourage
Lincoln and convince Anne Although
the attachment was growing and daily
becoming an intense and mutual pas
sion, the young lady remainded firm
and almost infexible. She was passing
through another fire.
A long struggle with her feelings fol-
lowed, but at length the inevitable mo.
ment came. She consented to have Lin
coin, provided he gave her time to write
to McNamar and obtain his release from
her pledge. The slow moving mails car
ried her tender letter to New York.
Days and weeks, which to the ardent Lin
coin must have seemed painfully long,
passed, but the answer never came. In
half hearted way she turned to Lin
coin. and her looks told him that he had
won. She accepted his proposal. Now
that they were engaged he told her
what she already knew-that he was
poverty itself. She must grant him time
to gather up funds to live Oh until he
had completed his law studies. After
this trifiing delay nothing on Gods
footstool, argued the emphatic lover,
could keep them apart. To this the
thoughtful Anne consented. To one of
her brothers she said, "As soon as his
studies are completed we are to be mar
ried. " But the ghost Of another love
would often rise unbidden before her.
Within her bosom ragged the conflict
which finally undermined her health.
Late in the summer she took to her bed.
A fever was burning in her head. Day
by day she sank until all hope was ban
ished. During the latter days Of her
sickness her physician had forbidden
visitors to enter her room, prescribing
absolute quiet. But her brother relates
that she kept inquiring for Lincoln SO
continuously, at times demanding to see
him, that the family at last sent for
him. On his arrival at her bedside the
door was closed, and he was left alone
with her. What was said, what vows
and revelations were made during this
sad interview, were known only TO him
and the dying girl. A few days after
ward she became unconscious and re-
mained so until her death on the 25th
day Of August, 1885.
The most astonishing and sad sequel
TO this courtship was the disastrous
effect of Miss Rutledge's death on Mr..
Lincoln's mind. 1t operated strangely
on one of his calm and stoical makeup.
AS he returned from the visit TO the bed
side of Miss Rutledge he stopped at the
house of a friend, who relates that his
face showed signs Of no little mental
agony. He was very much distressed, -"
is the language Of this friend, land /
was not surprised when it was rumored
subsequently that his reason was in dan
ger. One of Miss Rutledge's brothers
says: "1he effect upon Mr.. Lincoln's
mind was terrible. He became plunged
in despair, and many of his friends
feared that reason would desert her
throne. His extraordinary emotions
were regarded as strong evidence of the
existence of the tenderest relations be-
tween himself and the deceased. " The
truth is Mr. Lincoln was strangely
wrought up over the sad ending of the
affair. He had fits of great mental de-
preston and wandered up and down the
river and jato the woods woefglly alb
styacted. 1t times in the deepest distress.
II, when we read what the many credi-
bic persons who knew him at the time
tell us, we do not conclude that he was
deranged. we must admit that he walked
on that sharp and narrow line which
divides sanity from insanity. To one
friend he complained that the thought
that the SHOWS and rains fall upon her
grave filled him with indescribable
grief He was watched with especial