Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1913-02-12

w made the journey and duly returnsu' o1SS =
& " company, sure enough! Lincoln was aston aseon
1shed The bride proposed appeared to him 9
trife too willing but he gave neF .n hue
=, OF the doubt gE9a
SIR 81 There were other objections to her, Tor one
thing, that, while her face was attractive sue
s'S had no fgure-she was uncommonly stout'
For another his own financial condition ne
had settled at Springfield. capital OF the STATE
and began here the practice OF law. Wltnout'
4s$g however substantial result as yet. But He
had told her sister, he says IN letters quoseu
4 nv Miss Tarbell that he would take the laoy
for better OF worse, and this he must 90 since
II was a point OF honor with him to stick 70
his word, particularly where, as IN this case
others had been induced to act upon II.
He correspondent with this lady. and was
am Sin, his resolution to marry her. and even
Il MANNED how he might get along after the
~ marriage He took the precaution to write
her from Springfield and gave her strons nin1
r. the poverty OF his resources asking her at the
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 sacqualnt-
ance should depend upon yourself
Miss owens had the discernment to perceive
his feelings ishe answered declining his offer OF
!; marriage She found him, she said deficient IN
those little links which go to make up the cnain
OF a womans happiness" Lincoln was mort.
-fed'' SO he wrote d friend; his vanity wounded
i
understand her while. at the saIue time never
doubling that he understood her psrfectly.
N S. Ths Third Affair. ,..s p M
y It was in 1899 or 1910 that Lincoln met Miss
Mary Todd Of Lexington, KY, whom he afterward
married Their courtship was Interesting and
rather animated One Of its incidents, was q
broken engagement, and that according to one
authority on the very day set for the wedding
Lincoln was thirty or thirty-one when Miss
10
ing law in that place for 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 wife OF one OF the
5notables of Springfield. She was handsome
stylish, witty and spirited and soon after her
arrival in the Illinois capital began to cut a fig
ure in its society and to draw in her train the
more prominent 4beaux Of the town, among others
who afterward to distinction. besides Lin
coin, Stephen A. Douglas the Little Giant" lat
er 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 1t hogan to be apparent chat among
these suitors and 3frequenters of the Edwards
mansion Lincoln was her favorite. AS the init.
macy with him grew her relations protested: he
was not Of their sort: they were wealthy and
well-bred and looked on him of the plebeian
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 1t, ".he course of true
love never did run smooth" So, at least, 1t turn
ed out in their case. It 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.