The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1907-02-23
-ineaiA's Friend and Bodysuard

After Miss owens return 20 New
Salem, In the fall of 1896, Mr.. Lincoln
was unremltting In his attentions, and
wherever she went he was ut her side.
She had many relatives In the neigh.
borhood-the Bales, the Greenes, the
Grnhams-and II she went to spend an
afternoon or an evening with any of
these ~" was very likely to he on
hand - induct her home. He asked
her to marry him. but she prudcntly
cvadcd positive answer until she
could make up her mind about ques-
tionable points of his character She
did not think him coarse or cruel, but
she did think him thoughtlcss, care
less, not altogether rs polite MS he
might be--in short, deficient" as she
expresses It, sin those little links which
make up the great chain of woman's
happiness" His heart was good, his
principles were high, his honor sensi-
tive, but still I'm the eyes of this refined
young lady he did not seem to be quite
the gentleman. HE was lacking In
the smaller attentions" and, In fact,
the whole affair Is explained when she
tells us that "hls education was differ
ent from" hers.
Abe Was Ungallant.
one day Miss Owens and Mrs. Bow
lin Greene We're making their way
slowly aud tediously up the hill TO
Ables house, when they were Joined
by Lincoln. Mrs. Bowlin Greene was
carrying "a great big fat child, heavy
and GROSSLY disposed" Although the
woman bent pitiably under her burden,
Lincoln offered her no assistance, but,
dropping behind with Miss Owens, be-
gulled the way according TO his wishes.
When they reached the summit, Miss
owens said to Lincoln laughingly, You
would not make u good husband, Abe
They sat on the fence, and one word
brought on another till II split or
breach ensued."
Immediately after this misunder-
standing Lincoln went off toward Ha-
vana on n surveying expedition and
was absent about three weeks. On the
first day of his return one of Able's
boys was sent up ito town" for the
mail. Lincoln saw him at the postof-
flee and asked II Miss Owens was at
Mr. Able's." The boy said, Yes"
"rell her" said Lincoln, that I'll be
down TO see her In few minutes"
Now, Miss owens had determined TO
spend that evening ut Mlnter Gra-
hams, and when the boy gave In the
report "she thought u moment and said
to herself If | can draw Lincoln up
there TO Graham's II will be all right I"
This scheme was to operate as test
of Abe's love. but II shared the fate
of some of "the best laid schemes OF
mice AMI men" and went "all agley."
Lincoln, according TO promise, went
down to Able's and asked II Miss Ow-
ems was In. Mrs. Able replied that she
had gone to Graham's, about one and
half miles from Able's, due south
west. Lincoln said, Didn't she know
was comlngf" Mrs. Able answered,
mo-" but one Of the children said,
Eyes, ma, she did, for heard Sam tell
her So" Lincoln sat awhile and then
went about his business. 1.-THE fat
was now in the fire. Lincoln thought,
as he was extremely poor and Miss
owens very rich, 1t was ding on him
on that account. Abe was mistaken In
his guesses, for wealth cut no figure In
Miss Owens eyes Miss Owens re-
GREETED her course. Abe would not
bend. ana Nlqs Owens wouldn't. She
said II she h II to do over again she
would play the cards differently. -
She had two s,ns In the southern ar
my. She eIlA at IL either Of them
had got Into dilicultles she would will
ingly have gone TO old Abe for relief"
In Miss owens letter of July %,
1866 II will be observed that she tacit-
ly admitted to Mr., Gaines Greene 1.-The
circumstances In connection with Mrs.
Greene and child" Although she here
denies the precise words alleged to have
been used by her in the little quarrel
at the top OF the hill, she does not
deny the impression his conduct left
upon her mind, but presents additional
evidence of II by the relation Of anoth-
err incident OF similar character, from
which her differences were the same.
Fortunately we are not compelled to
rely upon tradition, however authentic,
for the facts concerning this interesting
episode In Mr.. Lincoln's life. Miss
Owens was still alive TO tell her own
tale at the time this narrative was
written, and we have besides his let
tiers to the lady herself. Mr.. Lincoln
wrote his account OF II as early rs
1888. AS in duty bound, we shall per.
NIT the lady to speak arst:
Letters From Mary Owens.
1870