The Red Cloud chief., 1913-02-06
NHY
Ow47

made the journey and duly returned sister IN
company. sure enough! Lincoln was aston
ished The bride proposed appeared 10 MIN q
triae too willing but he gavo her the benent
Of the doubt
There we're other objections to her; for one
thing, that. while her face was attractive sne
had no Agure-she was uncommonly STOUT
For another, his own financial condition. He
had settled at Springfield. capital OF the state
and began here the practice OF law, without
however. substantial result as yet but ne
had told her sister, he says In letters quoted
by Miss Tarbell, that he would take the lady
for better or worse. and this he must 90 since
It was a point Of honor with him to stick to
his word particularly where. as In this case
others had been induced to act upon 1t.
He corresponded with this lady. and was
firm in his resolution to marry her, ana even
planned how he might get along after the
marriage He took the precaution to write
her from Springfield and gave her strong hint
of the poverty of his resources asking her at the
same time to deliberate maturely. AS this'
however drew from her no decision after walt
ing three months he wrote again, putting the
matter between them squarely up to her. What
I WISH" said he, rs that our further acQuaint'
ance should depend upon yourself"
Miss Owens had the discernment to perceive
his feelings She answered. declining his offer Of
marriage She found him. she said. deficient IN
those little links which 60 to make up the chain
of a woman's happiness" Lincoln was "morti.
ne0, so ne WrOte n ITlenu, VANITY Wou"uou
BY the reflection that he had been too stupid to
understand her, WHILE at the same time never
doubling that he understood her perfectly.
The Third Affair.
It was in 1899 or 1S40 that Lincoln met Miss
Mary Todd OF Lexington. KY, whom he afterward
married. Their courtship was interesting and
rather animated. One Of it's Incidents was
broken engagement an6 that, according to one
authority on the very day set for the wedding.
Lincoln was thirty thrty-one when Miss
Todd came to Springfield. and had been practic.
ing law in that place for some three or four years
The lady was the daughter of Robert 8. Todd.
prominent Kentuckian. and was living. when
Lincoln made her acquaintance. with her sister.
Mrs. Ninian W. Edwards, the wifo OF one OF the
notables Of Springfield. She was handsome
stylish, witty and spirited, and soon after her
arrival In the Illinois capital began to cut a fg
ure in It's society and to draw In her train the
more prominent beaux of the town, among others
who afterward rose to distinction, besides Lin
coln Stephen A. Douglas. the Little Giant lat
Of the stump and senate and Shields. hero OF
the Mexican war, and one OF the most pictur-
esque figures In American life.
Ere long It began to be apparent chat among
these suitors and freQuenters OF the Edwards
mansion Lincoln was her favorite. AS the inti-
macy with him grew her relations protested; he
was not OF their sort; they were wealthy and
well.bred and looked on him as OF the plebelan
cast, as one socially inferior. He was OF the
humblest origin. crude and unpublished In man.
ners and. worst Of all, was poor. Miss Todd,
however was unmoved by their objections. She
loved him, believed In him. seems to have d..
vined his quality and had faith In his future
In 1910 they engaged to marry
But, as the proverb has It. "the course of true
love never did run smooth" So, at least, It turn
ed out In their case. 1t Is not perhaps strange.
considering the difference IN their tastes. their
ideals and breeding. that they did soon fall out.
Miss Todd was an exacting sweetheart: Mr. Lin.
coin careless.