The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-02-01
(continued from Yesterday.,
CHAPTER Ill.
Abe Always True 10 The Memory Of

Lincoln told Robert L. Wilson, a
distinguished colleague in the leg
islature. parts OF whose letter will be
printed in another place. that although
'.he appeared to enjoy life rapturous-
~" 1t was a mistake; that when alone
he was so overcome by mental depres-
sion that he never dared to carry a
pocket knife" And during ali Mr..
Wilson's extended acquaintance with
him be never DID own n knife. notwitl-
standing he was inordlnately fond of
whiting.
Mr.. l1crndon says: "ue never ad-
dressed another woman, in my opln-
ion, Yours affectionatefy,' and gener-
ally aud enthusiastically abstained
from the use OF the word love- That
word cannot be found more than half
dozen times. IL that often. in all his
letters and speeches since that time. L
have seen some OF his letters to other
ladies, but he never says love He
never ended his letters with Yours af.
fectionately,' but signed his name,
Your friend. A. Lincoln"
After Mr.. Lincoin's election to the
presidency he one day met an old
friend. Isaac Cosdale, who had known
him intimately in tie better days of
the RutlcdSes at New Salem. Ike"
said he. :.call ut my Office at tho state.
house about an hour by shutdown. The
company will then all be gone"
Cosdale went according to request.
"and sure enough as he expressed 1t.
tile company dropped Off one by one,
Including Lincoln's clerk"
81 want TO inquire about old times
and old acquaintances,' began Mr.. Lin
coin. When we lived in Salem there
We're the Greenes, Pottcrs, Armstrong;
and Rutledges. These folks have got
scattered all over the world. Some
are dead. Where are the Rutledges.
Greenes. etc?
After we had spoken over old
times" continues Cogdale-.'persons
circumstances-ln which he showed a
wonderful memory, then dared to ask
! him this question:
MAY now. in turn, ask you one
question. LincolnT
'Assuredly. will answer Your
question, II u fair one, with all my
heart
"'wel1, Abe, Is 1t true that you fell
in love and courted Ann RutfedgeT
"'ft is true-true! Indeed did. I
have loved the name Of RutIedge to
this day. I have kept my mind on
their movements ever since and love
them dearly
"'Abe, is 1t true" still urged Cog
dale. THAT you ran little wild about
the matterY 20 :
"'I did really. I ran on the track.
1t was my first, loved the woman
dearly. She was handsome girl:
would have made a good, loving wife:
was natural and quite intellectual.
though not highly educated. did hon.
estly and truly love the girl and think
often-often-of her now"
A few weeks after the burial of Ann
McNamar returned to New Salem. He
saw Lincoln at the postoffice and was
struck with the deplorable change In
his appearance. A short time after
ward Lincoln wrote him deed. which
be still has and prizes highly, In mem
DRY of his great friend and rival. His
father was at last dead. but he brought
back with him his mother and her fam
lily. In December Of the same year his
mother died and was buried in the
same graveyard with Ann. During his
absence Colonel Rutledge had occupied
his farm, and there Ann died, but ..the
Rutledse farm" proper adjolned this
one. to the south. Some of Mr.. Lin
coins corners as surveyor are still
visible on lines traced by him on both
FARMS"
On Sunday. the 14th day OF October.
1896. william II. Hcrndon knocked ut
the door of john McNamar at his resi-
dence. but few feet distant from the
spot where Ann rtutledge breathed her
last. After some preiiminarics not
necessary TO I've related Mr.. Herndon
says: 81 asked him the question:
"'Dld YOU know Miss Rutledge? II
SO. where did she die?'
"EIc sat by his open window. looking
westerly. and, pulling me closer to
himself. looked through the window
and said: There. by that'-choking up
with emotion. pointing his long fore
finger. nervous and trembling, to the
spot-there. by that currant bush, she
died. The old house In which she and
her father died is gone
Grave Of Ann Rutledge.
after further conversation, leaving
the sadness to momentarily pass away,
| asked this additional question:
"'Where was she buriedr
"'1n Concord burying ground. one
mile southeast Of this place."
Mr.. Herndon sought the grave. as.
@. Berry" says he. James Short 1.-THE
gentleman who purchased in Mr.. LIN.
coins compass and chain in 1884 un-
der an execution against Lincoln or
Lincoln & Berry and gratuitously gave
them back to Mr.. Lincoln), James
Miles and myself were together.
81 asked Mr.. Berry IL he knew where
Miss Rutiedge was buried-the place
and exact Surroundings. He replied:
] do. The grave Of Miss Rutledge lies
lust north OF her brothers, David Rut.
edge, a young lawyer OF great prom.
tse. who died In 1912, ts 4 q l5iii;
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