Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1916-02-19

~ years old and clerking in store
at New Salem. Ill. Ann RutIedge tavernkeeper's
daughter, the girl.
The second affair came when he was ahout
tWenty-s1x 1t began joke, after Lincoln had
become lawyer and practicing at Spring
field, but it caused him untold worry-becausa
the girl Mary Owens, fat and he didn't
want to marry her. The third affair took
lnat IS Mary Todd became Abraham Lincoln's
wife, when he thirty-three years old
When he a youth in the wlds of southern
indiana, Lincoln had his sentimental vaporings
one OF which appealed so strongly to his sense of
romance that he wanted to write story about
II This vaporing was the kind most of us have
along about the time the down on our upper lin
begins to tougher
1t is doubtful if Ann Rutledge ev.r loved Lin
coin She simply appreciated his sympathy and
anection-she had been Tilted by Jame3 McNeill
who tired of her and went East to escape his
obligation. Her father, James Rutledge one of
the founders of New Salem. kept a tavern and
there Lincoln went to board when in 1881 he left
MS home and became clerk in a store there
At breakfast dinner and supper he sat by the
side of the tavernkeeper's daughter. He was
twenty-five; she less than twenty She was
sad of heart and he tried to cheer her Lincoln's
sympathy ripened into deep affection, the girl
was faithful for more than year to the memory
McNeill
Even if the girl had been willing Lincoln was
in no position to marry He was very Door He
was one of the first to volunteer in the Black
Hawk war. When the was ended he re-
turned to New Salem. for the Legislature
and was defeated His financial condition was so
muddled at this time that he seriously contem-
plated becoming blacksmith in order to make
living. An opportunity came to him to get in
terest in store without putting up any real
money He was a wretched storekeeper and his
partner was better The business did not
flourish. but his courtship did. He and Ann Rut-
ledge sat at night the tavern steps walked
They young and youth is the age of glamour.
Lincoln was beginning to think of a as a
lawyer He believed he would be able in year
or two to support wife Ann could not forget
Mcneil, but the devotion of Lincoln prevailed
and she consented to marry him.
The summer of their engagement was the hap
piest. perhaps. in all of Lincolns life Ann Rut-
ledge beautiful in face and figure and charm
ing in every way. She not tall and
rather delicate. At times when she would be-
come little weary, Lincoln whose strength
unusual. delighted in taking her up in his
and carrying her if she child.
With their engagement everything seemed to
brighten for Lincoln He appointed post
master, he began to make a little money doing
survey work. and in the fall he elected to
the legislature.
The young couple decided get married
the spring. Ann. anxious complete her educa-
tion. decided to go Jacksonville attend
academy there during the winter Meanwhile,
Lincoln went to Sprin gfeld attend the session
of the legislature. continue his law studies and
prepare for his admission to the bar in the spring
He Springfield when he got message
that nearly broke his heart Ann Rutledge
dead. At the academy she contracted a fever
and died in few days. Lincoln predisposed
to melancholia- The death of the woman he loved
much almost upset his reason. He never fully
recovered from his grief
Ann Rutledge had been dead three years
when Lincoln became engaged again n Spring
field there lived Mrs. Able, with whom he
well acquainted She had sister. Mary Owens
of Kentucky, who visited Springfield for a short
time and to whom Lincoln had been introduced
Mary Owens was bright. clever and buxom- She
returned to Kentucky and Lincoln probably forgot
her. But day Mrs Able informed him that
she going to Kentucky and then. in a spirit
of banter. she said to Lincoln