Evening star., 1925-02-08
Washington Woman Tells Story
OF Cupid's Plea Made to Lincoln

shake hands with US. / had of course,
seen him before, for / had lived in
Washington during most of the time
he had been in the White House. But
my friend had never, and l think his
height overawed her-that and the
fact that he was President. He was so
very plain, though you could ap-
proach him without any difficulty
whatever. His face was dark and
serious as he invited US to be seat.
returned to his desk, then asked what
he could do for US.
Mrs. MCGEE was very nervous
when she began her story of running
away from school to see her John.
But when she saw the little twinkle
which came into the Presidents eye
she Quickened her story, telling final
ly of the marriage and of the fur
Tough from active campaigning which
she desired for her husband.
IT saw the twinkle in the Presi-
dents eyes deepening, and when she
got to the story of how she and John
were afraid of being separated II it
was found out that they were not
brother and sister and had therefore
determined to marry, Mr.. Lincoln
laughed out loud.
"He started to tease her, asking
her If she thought 1t nice thing to
run away from people who were car
ing for her, and pretending to scold
her for doing 1t. His attitude was so
like that of any fatherly man that
she was entirely at her ease and
answered him quite pertly. And he, still
smiling, said he supposed it was no
more than could be expected of young
people.
Asking her husbands full name
and the number of his regiment, he
wrote them down upon a piece of
paper on his desk and said he would
see what could be done about the de-
sired furlough.
He asked If we would call again
upon a certain day about week later.
and this, of course, we gladly agreed
to do He was a man of few words.
not at all lavish in his talk, but he,
smiled as he bade us 'good-day' and
rose and walked with us to the door
of the office. The heavy, serious look
seemed to have lifted from his face.
and he had proved to US that he could
laugh and make a joke well as the
next.
Anna and I were shaky with ex-
citement when we came out into the
late afternoon sunlight 1t seemed
little cooler, and 1 think We both
felt that we would get what We want
ed now that we had told Mr.. Lincoln
about 1t.
When we returned to keep our ap-'
| pointment a week later, the President
remembered us and was very courte-
Gus to US. He had the furlough ready.
| just as we had expected, and handed
| it to Anna in the kind way he had.
She blushed and tried to tell him how
| happy he had made her. And 1t
| seems to me I can almost hear him
say: I am very glad that 1t was in
| my power to make you happy
| have often heard men use that phrase,
| but I never heard a man say it who
| seemed to mean it as much as Mr..
| Lincoln did that day" -
1 X r x X
THAT furlough which the President
handed to Mrs. McGee enabled her
! husband to have a long rest, and
when he was re-examined the doctors
| determined that he was unified for
| further service. Her intuition for her
/ loved one had told her truly that he
was not strong enough for more cam
paigning.
! So another story Of the kindliness
of great heart is written. A strange
and gaunt Cupid this-with a twinkle
in his eye and a philosophic turn of
mind with the thought that Romance
| is "only what may be expected of
young people" A beneflcent and gal
liant Cupid, too, bending his six feet
and more of height over a little lady's
hand and saying, II am very glad that
it was in my power to make you
| happy"