The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-02-12

w - III the heart, emotion deeper than
w the calf love of half grown youth,
AT>1 when he was twenty-five
~ ~ ~ years old and clerking in a store
at New Salem, ILL., Ann Rutledge, tavernkeepers
daughter, was the girl
The second affair came when he was about
tWenty-six. 1t began joke after Lincoln had
become a lawyer and practicing at Spring
field, but it caused him untold worry-because
the girl, Mary Owens, fat and he didn't
want to marry her. The third affair took"
That is Mary Todd became Abraham Lfncon's
wife, when he thirty-three years old
When he was youth in the wilds of southern
INDIANA, Lincoln had his sentimental Vaporings,
one of which appealed so strongly to his sense Of
romance that he wanted to write a story about
IT, This vaporing was the kind most of US have
along about the time the down on our upper lip
begins to tougher.
1t is doubtful if Ann Rutledge ev IF loved Lin
coin. She simply appreciated his sympathy and
anection-she had been Tilted by James McNeilI,
who tired of her and went East to escape his
obligation Her father, James Rutledge one of
the founders of New Salem, kept tavern and
there Lincoln went to board when in 1881 he left
his 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-two; she less than twenty. She was
sad of heart and he tried to cheer her. Lincons
sympathy ripened into deep affection but the girl
was faithful for more than a year to the memory
of McNein
Even if the girl had been willing Lincoln was
in position to marry. He was very poor He
was of the first to volunteer in the Black
Hawk When the was ended he re-
turned to New Salem, for the legislature
and defeated. His financial condition was so
muddled at this time that he seriously contem-
plated becoming blacksmith in order make
living. An opportunity to him to get in
terest in a store without putting up any real
money. He was wretched storekeeper and his
partner was no better. The business did not
flourish, but his courtship did. He and Ann Rut-
ledge sat at night on the tavern steps or walked
along the roads around the little settlement.
They were young and youth is the age of glamour.
Lincoln was beginning to think of a career
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 the hap
piest, perhaps in all of Lincoln's life. Ann Rut-
ledge was 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 arms
and carrying her as If she were child
With their engagement everything seemed to
brighten for Lincoln He was appointed post
master, he began to make a little money doing
survey work and in the fall he elected
the legislature.
the spring. Ann anxious to complete her educa-
ton, decided to go to Jacksonville to attend
academy there during the winter. Meanwhile
Lincoln went to Springfield to attend the session
OF the legislature. continue his law studies and
prepare for his admission to the bar in the spring
He was in Springfield when he got message
that nearly broke his heart. Ann Rutledge was
dead. At the academy she contracted a fever
and died in few days. Lincoln predisposed
to melancholia- The death of the woman he loved
so much almost upset his reason. He never fully
recovered from his grief.
Ann Rutledge had been dead two three years
when Lincoln became engaged again In Spring
field there lived Mrs. Able. with whom he was
well acquainted. She had sister, Mary Owens
of Kentucky, who visited Springfield for short
time and to whom Lincoln had been introduced
Mary Owens bright, clever and buxom- She
returned to Kentucky and Lincoln probably forgot
her. But one day Mrs. Able informed him that
she was going Kentucky and then, in a spirit
of banter, she said to Lincoln: