The Press., 1907-07-03
Lincoln No. 2
 By GRANT LESTER.
Copyright. 1907, by Mary McKeon.

many promising speculatlons sne would have entered into. She was allowed to boss things around the farm, but when 1t came to outside matters the hus- band would take no risks. When his death finally took place, people looked to see Aunt Betty, as she was called. though only forty years old, carry out some of her ideas and make things hum. They were not disappointed. She went into strawberries and made money; she went into the dairy busi- ness and made money; she went into poultry and made money. It was said that there were not half a dozen men in the county who had her business sense.
 Aunt Betty had daughter nineteen years old, by name Prue. Prue did not run to business She was simply sweet tempered and lovable girl, who attended school in town in the winter and helped about the homework in summer. Up to the time of the fla ther's death the mother had not "suf- fered aspirations" regarding Prue's flu ture. It was tacitly understood that she would marry some young farmer and settle down to the humdrum life. But after the mother had become business woman there were other plans for the girl. She was to be educated in music and other arts and made lady of.
 Just how Prue Johnson and Darius Livingstone first met is of no great consequence. He was twenty-two and had graduated as a lawyer and settled in the town. He was slab sided young man, tall and angular and un- gainly. There were few people who said that he might know more than he showed, but the majority were of the opinion that he didn't know whether potatoes grew in the ground or on trees. If Prue held with the majority. it was rather singular that the young lawyer should have come driving out to the farm one June day to inquire for her. She was upstairs at the time, and 1t was her mother who re- .ceived him. At the first glance she thought him the homeliest young man she had ever seen. After the second she took him for some peddler of mu- sic and went upstairs and said to .Prue: 'There's a bean pole down stairs ask ing for you. I never saw such gawk. He says his name is Livingstone. He's enough to scare setting hen of the nest. Did you ever hear of any such feller?"
 "Why, ma, he's a lawyer in town, and we have met three or four times," replied Prae as her face flushed scar- let. i "A lawyer-humph! If you was to put a club in his hand he wouldn't know enough to pound sand. What's he here forr'
 "Why-why, he said he might call some day. don't see why you call him homely. I've heard lots of folks say that he reminded them of Abraham Lincoln" .~,, E The mother sniffed her contempt and ceived her caller, and, though Mrs. Johnson was rather busy around the house and yard, she saw and heard enough to satisfy her that the young man was interested" He remained for an hour or so and then left, and while his back was yet in sight Prue was properly warned. ~
 "I shall have to have son-in-law some day." added the mother, "but want one whose looks won't sour all the milk and who knows a cabbage head from an old gander. Lawyer! Lawyer! Why, the poorest lawyer we've got in town would make your young man look like bobtailed wood chuck if they had a case in court"
 Prue ran away without talking back, and things Quieted down for a week. Then the mother came home from town one afternoon to blurt out:
 "Do you know what heard this aft ernoon2 At least half dozen people told me that you and that scarecrow young lawyer were in love-"
 "Oh, mammaw
 "Xou needn't oh. mammal me. If man, I'm ashamed of you. Why, that red headed. cross eyed Sue Williams wouldn't look at him."
 "We are not in love-" stoutly pro- tested Prue.
 '"Then what are you looking so red forr -
 "Because-because we are simply friends. That is, he's awfully smart when you come to talk with him. I've been reading the life of Lincoln, and it's wonderful how much alike they are"
 "Wonderful bosh! Abe Lincoln was smarter'n @ whip as a lawyer"
 "But Darius is going to be If he ever gets case"
 "Ever gets a case! I'd like to know who'd trust him with a casey'
 The young man called again in about . week, ostensibly to make inquiries concerning the strawberry pest, and, while Mrs. Johnson didn't order him of the farm. she gave him what she called chilling reception. The fact that he didn't seem at all put out az gravated her, and but for a business engagement taking up her attention she would have had much to say to Prue. Four days later she came into the house to say:
 "Well, when dreamed of black hogs one night last week I knew that trou- ble would come. I've got lawsuit on hand. It seems that those three COWS I bought over in Delevan last week had chattel mortgage on them. The holder of 1t wants 800 from me- must either pay or be sued told him to sue as soon as he pleased, and he'll probably summon me tomorrow
 "And you'll have to have a lawyer?" asked Prue.
 '-Of course. Pm going to drive into town fo aoo TaUvor ParSOuSU
 "Rpt why. not give MT. Livingstone the caseP'
 "Prue Johnson, do you take me for an idiotw exclaimed the mother in astonishment. Do you think I want to lose 800 and costs, besides $1O more for lawyer2 Folks around here think I'm pretty smart woman, and don't want to be made a laughingstock of