Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-02-28

But Matilda knew little about any
of these things and cared less. She
was too busy with parties and engage
ments, lectures and cotillionS. She was
the belle OF the capital. Men crowded
about her, attracted by her beauty and
her charm. 1t is in the records Of her
descendants that she broke many
hearts, received many proposals OF
marriage.
Whenever she took time out to think
from the hectic rounds of her engage
many times Mr.. Lincoln was her es-
cort on parties lectures and enter
tainments. On one party, they played
"muggins." She sat facing him, almos:
knee to knee. Each held a plate in
his or her lap. The objective of the
game was for the man to keep his eyes
on those of his partner and to repeat
her every movement. When she
touched her plate, he touched his
fingers, he touched his. He was warned
that he must never lose her eyes. He
thought he had won until they brought
him before a looking glass. There he
saw that his face was smeared with
lampblack where he had touched 1t
with his hands. His plate had been
smudged with the black substance.
Together. she and Mr.. Lincoln at
tended the first theatrical performance
Matilda had ever seen. 1t was given
in the Springfield theater which was
equipped with a complete stage and
curtain. She went to parties with other
men and especially to dances, for Mr..
Lincoln did not dance. He was always
there, however, watching her.
In the beginning, she accepted Mr..
Lincoln's company because Cousin Min
ian held him in such deep regard But
soon she was looking forward to being
with him for his own sake. Alone, he
was good company. He was dry and
whimsical. Sometimes, he was tronical.
But always he was kind in his COM
ments on the vagarieS of mankind ana
his neighbors. Now she found that
what Elizabeth Edwards had said OF
him was true. She had completely for
gotten what she had called his "gawk-
mess" when she came to know him.
Those two weeks passed, dream OF
delight. She had had every pleasure OF
which a pretty young girl dreams. She
had been the cynoSure OF all male eyes,
the object of mems reverent attentions.
She had the feeling that all she would
have to do would be TO reach out her
hand and pick a mate. The fact that
no man had yet appeared to whom
she could give her heart did not alter
the situation. If he did appear. she
could have him.
He did appear. He was tall young
man with a black muStache. He came
from New York, where he had been
working in a law office after gradual
ing from Harvard college. AS soon as
she saw him, she thought, if I can
make him like me l will reach out
some day and pick him for my hus-
band. His name was Newton Strong.
He was the brother of Chief Justice
Strong of the supreme court. That
sounded like fine title for young
lady to marry into, especially when it
left Newton to go out and get another
title maybe even more important.
She had the strangest impulse to
tell Mr.. Lincoln that she was in love
and at sight. But instinct and delicacy
forbade her. A young lady did not dis
cuss a young man with another man,
especially a man she really scarcely
knew. although she felt that she had
known him all her life. So she went to
q party on the last night Of her stay.
The party was In the house Of the
Hendersons on the very edge Of the
town. But the night was clear and
warm and when the party was over.
Mr.. Lincoln suggested that they walk
home to the Edwards house. There was
something In his tone that warned her
the walk back would be important She
thought for . moment Of refusing and
Of making an excuse to ride In q car