The Snowflake herald., 1922-02-10
CHAPTER XxIII-Continued.

AA'Cu III oPilhSuCiu W NlSlL ucT SlSlcT,
Mrs. Ninian W. Edwards. She was a
fashionably dressed, good-looking girl
Of blue-gray eyes and dark hair.
"Well, Mary, haven't you found the
fortunate young man yet?" Mr.. Ed
wards playfully asked the day of her
coming.
"You know, my husband is going
to be President of the United States
and l hoped that I would find him in
Springfield" Mary answered in a like
vein.
There's great fishing here" said
Mr. Edwards. II know the very man
you are looking for. He has come up
from the ranks and is now the most
popular member of the legislature. He
can make stirring speech and they
say he is going to be the President of
the United States. He's wise and
witty and straight as a string, but a
rough diamOnd-big, awkward and
homely. You're just the girl to take
him in hand and give him a little pol
lsh and push him along. His name is
Abraham Lincoln"
Speed knew the Todds. When he
called upon Mary she asked abou4 Mr..
Lincoln and said she would like to
meet him.
she's just the girl for you, Abe"
Speed said to him that evening. "She
is bright and well educated and her
family has influence. She could be a
great help to you"
This interested the member from
Sangamon county, who was indeed
eager to get along. The companionship
of refined young lady was the very
thing lie needed.
Lets go over and pay our respects
to her," Speed suggested. They went,
Lincoln being carefully dressed in his
first suit of black clothes. Miss Todd
was bright, vivacious girl of middle
stature, twenty-five years old. She
was fashionably dressed and carried
her head proudly-a smart-looking,
witty, well spoken girl, but not espe7
cially handsome. Honest Abe was
deeply impressed by her talk and fine
manners and general comelinesS. He
felt her grace and charm and spoke
Of 1t with enthusiasm. But to him
and to her there seemed to be an I'M
passable gulf between them. She
changed her mind about that, how
ever, when she heard him speak and
felt the power of his personality and
saw his face lighted by the candle of
his spirit. 1t was a handsome face
in those moments of high elation.
Hardship and malarial poison had
lined and sallowed his skin. The
shadows of loneliness and sorrow were
in its sculpturing. But when his eyes
glOwed with passion one saw not the
rough mask which the life of the
pioneer had given him. His form lost
it's awkwardness; his face took on
noble and impressive beauty. To
quote his own words to the boy, Josiah
Traylor, his character was speaking
as we'll as his lips. Mary had the in
sight to recognize his power She felt
the strength of his spirit. She agreed
with her friends that here was a man
of great promise. She felt the need
of him.
To one vino loved beauty and re-
spected women as he did, the grace
and refinement of this young lady had
singular appeal, coupled, as it was,
with the urge of his strong, masculine
nature. 1t was a revelation. He was
like a young poet going out into the
open and seeing for the first time the
mysterious beauty of the mountains
or "the exquisite, delicate, thin curve
Of the new moon in spring." He be-
gan 20 seek and study refinement of
thought, of manner, Of dress, of ex-
preston. He knew that he needed
Mary. but had the feeling that she
was rot for him.
A Woman who lived near the Ed
wards house had a small, hairy
poodle dog. One day as Abe and Mary
were walking along the street, they
met this woman, who asked if they
had seen her dog.
Il wouldn't wonder if some one down
the street had got him tied to the end
OF a pole and is using him to swab off
his windows" said Abe Lincoln with
a good-natured laugh. "I'll try to
find him for you"
Mary enjoyed fun and this and like
sallies of the young legislator added
a certain Zest to their friendship.
Women are like children in their love
of humor.
The diminutive Douglas saw in Miss
Todd an asset of much value and his
attentions began to be assiduous. Mary
was Indifferent to his lofty manner
and sonorous vocalism. Abe Lincoln
liked her better for that.
She encouraged the visits Of the lat
ter and invited his confidence. The
fact filled him with a great joy. They
went about together. In the Edwards
parlor he modestly told her of his
work and his life plan. She differed
with him on certain subjects which
were unfortunately funda mental H0