The Virginia enterprise., 1909-02-19

ney were given seats on logs and left themselves
he SECONDS and peacemakers discussed the situation
m h snort t. tme serious defect in the proceedings
,ne part OF Shields came to light The challenge had
been sent prematurey The mistake is explained quite
clearly in the Alton traditions. Lincoln had amused
himself and had entertained the Whgs nv writing funnv
letters to Springfield paper about the Democrats and
signing his epistle "Aun Rebecca" Mary Todd who aft
erwards became Mrs Lincoln and Julia Jayne conspired
10 aoa TO the gayey OF the community by getting up
Aunt Rebecca letter of their composition and send
ing it to the along with some verses which they
signed "Cathleen." The letter which the girls wrote
went outside of politics contained buresoe pro
posal or marriage to Auditor Shields Now the auditor
aterward United States senator from three states
and brave general of two wars, young man.
Whe springhed laughed, Shields began investiga
tlon he demanded of the editor the real Aunt
Rebecca." The girls became frightened Bunn the
banker, went to Mr. Lincolns office and said:
We've got into awful fix"
whats the matter?" asked Lincoln
The girls have written some poetry Shields" said
Bum Didn't you see it in the paper? Well, Shields
says ne won't stand it. What shall do about it,"
"You back and when you meet Shields tell him
wrote it, said Lincoln.
Shields accepted this without verfcation sent the
challenge Shields the of proceeding further
when he learned that Lincoln not the writer. For
an hour the writing and exchanging of notes
went on. Meantime the population of Alton stood in
dense mass the river bank looking chan
mel and having good view of all of the movements
B Souther good reporter that he was kept his eyes
the principals He told that for some time after the
landing Lincoln and Shields sat quietly their logs
serious After while something happened and South
er said that when he saw it he nearly blew up The
bundle of sabres had been laid down log
Lincoln was sitting Lincoln reached and took up one
of the weapons. He drew the blade slowly from the
scabbard, Souther 1T as long as fence
rail"
Holding the blade by the back Lincoln looked closely
at the edge, and then after the of who has
been grinding scyhe knife he began feel
gingerly the edge with the ball of his thumb. BY this
time Bill Souther tremendously interested. Hold
ing the sabre by the handle Lincoln up looked
about him. He evidently what he was looking for
in willow tree several feet away Raising the mighty
weapon with his long arm Lincoln reached clipped
one of the opmost twigs Of the willow When he had
thoroughly satisfied himself the efficiency of the
broadsword he sat down.. few minutes later the cor
respondence closed terms honorable to both par
ties"
AS the boat put back Alton the spectators on the
bank were Mortified to lying upon the
figure covered with blood, while wellknown Atonian
leaned the figure plying fan vigorously. Not
til close in shore it. that the figure
was log of wood that the "bloody" covering
flannel shirt Wentworth dropped the fan stood up
and grinned
Lincoln story which will die is the reply the
nresident made to criticism of Grants habits Lin