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

in Springfield. Her sister was the wife of Ninian
W. Edwards one CT the most prominent men CT
Springfield Miss Todd bright, witty. highly
educated ambitious. and at once became the
belle of Springfield Few young women have had
more great men suitors for their hand than had
Miss Todd within one month OF her arrival
Among those who paid ardent attention to her
were Stephen A. Douglas. James Shields. who
later senator from three states and who
made a glorious record in three wars; Abraham
Lincoln and dozen others
The Edwards family protested against Miss
Todds partiality for Lincoln. They thought his
family was plcbean they thought, too, he was
too grave a man. But Miss Todd loved Lincoln
and they became engaged.
They were not altogether happy in their en-
gagement- Miss Todd jealous and exacting.
She loved balls and parties frivolities of all sorts
that dear to women. Lincoln did not care
much for those things and shockingly
thoughtleSS and inattentive for an engaged man.
When there was some merrymaking if he didn't
want to go. he didn't think she'd care. She. how
ever, thought it a slight She complained that
he neglected her. Then, to make him feel bad
about it. she would go with Shields or with
Douglas. There were tears reproaches. quar-
rels. They would make up and fall out again.
All this had very bad effect upon Lincoln He
became extremely morbid. He began to search
his soul to answer the question as to whether or
not he would make the woman's life unhappy.
They were to have been married on January 7,
1912 Something happened and the wedding did
not take place There was story. which was
credited 20 W. H. Herndon, that Lincoln failed
to appear, but this has been pronounced untrue
by those who ought to know 1t is more likely
that one of their many quarrels led to the break
between them.
Some of Lincoln's letters written about this
time disclose his suferings- In of them he
says:
Il the miserable man living. If
what feel were equally distributed to the whole
human family there would not be cheerful
face earth. Whether / shall be better
1 cannot tell 1 fear 1 shall not To remain
1 am is impossible"
Reconciliation and Marriage.
One of his friends in Kentucky invited
there in the hope of cheering him up. He had a
hard time arousing Lincoln from his melanchoiia.
but he finally succeeded in a manner he never
expected The friend fell in love himself and
began to feel qualmish to whether he would
make his beloved happy He became miser-
able over his doubt in this regard that Lincoln
tried to cheer him up, and in trying to cheer his
friend, Lincoln cheered up himself
When Lincoln returned Illinois he was
much better. He and Miss Todd met and there
reconciliation.
On November 4. following. Lincoln and Mary
Todd were married While the marriage
mony was being performed of the greatest
storms in the history of Springfield was raging.
Did you ever write out story in your mind?"
Lincoln once asked friend 81 did when was
young fellow One day wagon with lady
and two girls and man broke down near US. and
while they were fixing up they cooked in our
kitchen The woman had books and read Us
stories. and they first of the kind / ever
had heard L took great fancy to of the
girls. and when they gone thought of her
great deal, and one day when sitting out
III the sun oy tne mouse wrote out story In
my mind
Il thought l took my fathers horse and fol-
lowed the wagon. and finally 1 found it. and
they were surprised to see talked with the
girl and persuaded her to elope with me; and
that night put her on the horse and we started
of across the prairie After several hours we
came to camp, and when rode up founi
it the had left a few hours before
and in.
THE next night tried again. and the same
thing happened-the horse came back to the
same place: and then concluded that we
ought not to eope- stayed until 1 had per
suaded her father to give her me- 1 ALWAYS
meant to write that story and pzhlssh 1t
and began once. but concluded it was not
much of story But think that was the be
ginning of love with me-"