Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1909-02-04

rection and Mr.. Shields in the other
They were given seats logs left to themselves
while seconds and peacemakers discussed the situation
In short time serious defect the proceedings on
the part of Shields to light The challenge had
been sent prematurely The mistake is explained quite
clearly in the Alton traditions. Lincoln had amused
himself and had entertained the Wings by writing funny
letters to Springfield paper about the Democrats and
signing his epistle Aunt Rebecca" Mary Todd who aft
erwards became Mrs Lincoln and Julia Jayne conspired
to add to the gayey of the community by getting UP
Aunt Rebecca letter of their composition send
ing it to the paper along with verses which they
signed "Cathleen" The letter which the girls wrote
went outside of politics and contained buresque pro-
posal of marriage to Auditor Shields Now the auditor
afterward a United States senator from three states
and brave general of two wars, fiery young
While Springfield laughed, Shields began investiga
ton He demanded of the editor the real of Aunt
Rebecca." The girls became frightened Bum, the
banker. went over to Mr.. Lincolns Office and said
We've got into awful fix"
Whats the matter?" asked Lincoln.
'The girls have written poetry Shields" said
Bum. Didn't you see it in the paper? Well, Shields
says he won't stand it. What shall we do about it?'
"You go back and when you meet Shields tell him
wrote it," said Lincoln.
Shields accepted this without vercation the
challenge Shields the of proceeding further
when he learned that Lincoln not the writer. For
hour more the writing and exchanging of notes
went Meantime the population of Alton stood in
dense the river bank looking across the chan
mel and having good view of all of the movements
"Br Souther good reporter that he kept his
on the principals He told that for time after the
Lincoln said nothing and Souther thought he looked
serious After a while something happened South
er said that when he it he nearly blew up" The
bundle had been laid down near the log where
Lincoln sitting Lincoln reached out and took up
of the weapons. He drew the blade slowly from the
scabbard Souther said cit looked long fence
rail"
Holding the blade by the back, Lincoln looked closely
the edge and then after the manner of who has
been grinding scythe knife, he began to feel
gngerly the edge with the ball of his thumb. BY this
time "B' Souther tremendously interested. Hold
ing the by the handle Lincoln stood and 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 and clipped
one the topmost twgs of the willow When he had
thoroughly satisfied himself to the efficiency of the
broadsword he sat down. few minutes later the
respondence closed terms honorable to both
ties"
AS the boat put back tssAlton the spectators the
bank were Mortified to lying prone upon the deck
figure covered with blood, while welknown Atonan
leaned over figure plying fan vigorously Not
til the boat close in shore that the figure
was log of and that the bloody" covering was
a red flannel shirt Wentworth dropped the FAM stood up
and grinned
A Lincoln story which will die is the reply the
president made the criticism of Grants habits. Lin