Tombstone epitaph., 1916-02-13

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 \ BRAHAM LINCOLN was lover. AAN. but he unusual lover just .NAM as he was unusual in every other VII way. His first recorded affair of w A, E the heart, emotion deeper than S&I the calf love of half-grown youth. AT$. came when he was twentytwo v ~ years old and clerking in store at New Salem. III. Ann Rutledge. tavernkeeper's daughter, was the girl.
 The second affair came when he was about twenty-six. Ii began joke after Lincoln had become lawyer and was practicing Spring field. but il 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 Lincoln's wife, when he thirty-three years old.
 When he was a youth in the wilds Of southern Indiana. Lincoln had his sentimental yaporings one Of which appealed so strongly to his of romance that he wanted to write a story about IL This yaporinE was the kind most of have along about the time the down on our upper lip begins to toughen.
 It is doubtful if Ann Rutledge ev r loved Lin coin. She simply appreciated his sympathy and anection-she had been tilted by James McNeili. hO fiyai of hey and I-ac hs- 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 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 twentytwo; she was less than twenty. She was sad of heart and he tried to cheer her. Lincolns sympathy ripened into deep affection. but the girl was faithful for more than year to the memory of McNeill
 Even if the girl had been willing Lincoln in no position to marry. He was very poor. He of the first to volunteer in the Black Hawk When the ended he turned 10 New Salem, ran for the legislature and was defeated. His financial condition so muddled at this time that he seriously contem plated becoming blacksmith in order to make living. An opportunity came to him to get an in terest in a store without putting up any real money He wretched storekeeper and his partner was no better. The business did not
  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 as a lawyer. He believed he would be able in year or two to support . wife Ann could not forget McNefll, but the devotion of Lincoln prevailed and she consented to marry him.
 The summer of their engagement was the hap piest perhaps fin ali of Lincoln's life. Ann Rut- ledge was beautiful in face and figure and charm ing in every way. She not tall and was rather delicate. At times when she would be- come a little weary. Lincoln. whose strength was unusual. delighted in taking her up in his arms and carrying her as if sine were 6 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 was elected to the legislature.
 The young couple decided to get married in the spring. Ann. anxious to complete her educa- tion. decided to go to Jacksonville to attend an academy there during the winter. Meanwhile Lincoln went to Springfield attend the sessio, ,f the legislature, continue his law studies and prepare his admission to the bar in the spring
 He vas fin Springfield when he got message that nearly broke his heart. Ann Rutledge was dead At the academy she contracted fever and died in a few days. Lincoln was predisposed 10 melancholia The death of the woman he loved 70 much almost upset his reason He never fully .ecovered from his grief
 Ann Rutledge had been dead two or three years when Lincoln became engaged again. In Spring eeld there lived Mrs. Able. with whom he was ,~eIl acquainted. She had a sister, Mary Owens ef Kentucky who visited Springfield for short fine and to whom Lincoln had been introduced Mary Owens was bright, clever and buxom. Sht .aurped to Kentucky and Lincoln probably forgot hsr But enc day Mrs. Able informed him thai sae was rcinz .o Kentucky and then, in spir of hs,e.sr soe saiS to Linco;a: