Tombstone epitaph., 1916-02-13

Tn SDrinEneld. Her sister was tne Wlle Oi W. Edwards. one of the most prominent men o' Springfield Miss Todd was bright, witty. highly educated ambitious. and at once became tne belle of Springfield. Few young women nave naa more great men suitors for their hand than haa Miss Todd within month Of her arfi'ai- Among those who paid ardent attention to her were Stephen A. Douglas. James Shields. ~ho later was senator from three states and who made a glorious record in three wars: Abraham Lincoln. and a dozen others
 The Edwards family protested against Miss Todd's partiality for Lincoln. They thought his family was plobeian; 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 was jealous ana exactins. She loved balls and parties frvolities or all sorts that are so dear to women. Lincoln did not care much for those things and was shockngly thoughtIess and inattentive for an engaged man. When there was some merrymsking, if he didn't want to go. he didn't think she'd care. She, how ever. thought 1t 6 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, guar rels They would make up and fall out again.
 All this had a 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 womans life unhappy. They were to have been married on January |, lSi2. SOnetnlng nappeueu anu tHe uiH not take place There was a story. which was credited to W. H. Herndon. that Lincoln failed to appear, but this has been pronounced untrue by those who ought to know. It 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 surerings In one of them he says:
 T am now the most miserable man living. If what feel were equally distributed to the whole human family there would not be one cheerful face on earth. Whether I shall ever be bette! I cannot tell. fear shall not. To remain as I am is impossible
 Reconciliation and Marriage.
 One of his friends in Kentucky invited him there in the hope of cheering him up. He had a hard time arousing Lincoln from his meancholia but he finally succeeded in a manner he never expected. The friend fell in love himself and began to feel quaimish as to whether he would make his beloved happy He became SO 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 to Illinois he was much better. He and Miss Todd met and there reconciliation.
 On November 1. following. Lincoln and Mar Todd were married. While the marriage cere mony was being performed one of the greates, storms in the history of Springfield was raging
 Did you ever write out a story in your mind 2 Lincoln once asked a friend. T did when l was a young fellow. One day wagon with lady and two girls and a man broke down near us. and while they were fixing up they cooked in ouI kitchen. The woman had books and read us stories. and they were the first of the kind eve, had heard. I took a great fancy to of ths girls, and when they were gone I thought of hel a great deal. and one day when was sitting out in the by the house wrote out story ir my mind.
 T thought took my fathers horse and fol lowed tine wagon and finally l found it. ana they were surprised to see me. talked with thu girl and persuaded her to elope with me; aat that night put her the horse and started on across the prairie. After several hours ", came to a camp. and when we rode up founf it the had left few hours before and went in.
 The next night we tried again. and the sam, thing happened-the horse came back to tn, place; and then concluded that VI, ought not to elope. l stayed until l had per suaded her father to give her to me. l alwayi meant to write that story out and publish it and I began once. but I concluded it was no much Of story. But I think that was the be r.gsning of love with me"