El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-05-09

DERHAPs OF all the presidents no
one had stranger love affairs than
Abraham Lincoln
His first sweetheart was a tavern
keepers daughter For her he had an
affection that endured through his life.
His second romance was grotesque-
Rarely had a sutton found himself in a
more ridiculous situation than did Lin
coin in this instance. His maneuvers
to extricate himself from his fancied
engagements furnish a rare insight in
to his character Queer to relate. when
the lady rejected him. as he hoped and
prayed, but doubted that she would, he
began to have a real tender regard for
her.
His third adventure with Cupid even
tuated in his marriage. but not until
there had been a disagreement that
broke the engagement and postponed
the wedding nearly a year Incident
ally. Lincoln appeared on the dueling
ground for the first and last time
shortly before the marriage He was
challenged as a result OF a political
satire his lady love wrote. Happily
for all concerned, the duellists patched
I'D their quarrel without the letting OF
blood.
Ann RutIedge was Lincoln's first
love. but it is doubtful is she ever
loved him. Her father, James Rut-
ledge. was one Of the founders Of
settlement on the SangamOn river
called New Salem that thrived for half
q dozen years or more, had dreams Of
greatness and then withered- The
father kept a tavern and there Lin
coIn went to board when in 1881 he
left his home and became clerk in
mill that his friend Denton Offutt
started in New Salem
At breakfast, dinner and supper he
sat bv the side Of the tavern Keepers
daughter. He was %: she was less
than 90. She was sad Of heart and he
tried to cheer her. She was TO have
married James Mcneil. member Of
q wealthy family, but Mcneil went
east. ostensibly on a business trip, and
after writing a few letters to her she
heard nothing more from him. Lin
coins sympathy ripened into deep az
lection. but the girl was faithful Tor
more than a year TO the memory OF
H1ppIest summer Of LineOIn's Life.
Even If the girl had been Wiling
lincoln was in no position to marry
IIe was very. poor. He was one OF the
first 10 volunteer in the Black Hawk
When the war was ended ne re-
turned to New Salem. ran for the Leg
fsIarure and was defeated His imam
cial condition was so serious at TINS
time that he seriously contemplated !
becOmfnE a blacksmith in order 10 /
make a living An opportunity came I
10 him to get an interest in store /
without putting up any real money lie !
was q v-retched storekeeper and his !
mariner was no better The business I
did not flourish. but his courtshlp did
He and Ann Ruuedge sat at night on
the tavern steps or walked along the
roads around the little settlement Ihey
were young and youth is the age or
Elamor Lincoln was beginning TO /
think Of career as 2 lawyer He
belived he would be able in a year or
TWO to support a wife Ann could not Z
forget Mcneil. but the devotion Of
Lincoln prevailed and she consented to
Tbe sumner Of their engagement
was the happiest perhaps. in all Of
Iincoln's life Ann Rutledge was I
beautiful in face and figure and charm
ing in every way She was not tail
and was rather delicate At times
when they wandered further from the
settlement than they realized and she
would become a little weary, Lincoln.
whose strength was unusual delighted