Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-02-28
|yyrtsh, 1870: BY News Syndicate Co. In
IN TWO PARTS-PAkT TWO

mat evening. Abraham Lincoln pre-
red for his visit with great care In
room above Joshua Speeds general
me which he shared with the pro-
ke,or. He shaved and combed his
n flat and away from the part with
q aid of plenty Of water. He tallowed
boots and he put on q clean white
int and another black stock. He care
nv removed the unanswered letters.
e notations and the unpaid bills
om the sweat band of his stovepipe
If and polished 1t with the grain"
in the sleeve Of his coat. His clothes.
mi wrinkled, gave him some concern
M he put on his hat and went down
! the store and stood peering anxious
at Joshua.
How do look?" he asked.
Fit" Joshua Speed said. Ito skin
bear"
Abraham Lincoln was afraid Of that.
2 might look fit to skin a bear but
ot TO meet a charming young lady.
(e walked slowly out Of the store and
8 slowly across the square to the
Edwards house. whose two stories were
{blaze with candlelight.
The Edwards house was one OF the
how places Of Springfield. 1t was built
4 brick and embellshed with fine
3croll work. A porch ran along two
iides of 1t and the second story win
lows were ornamented with green
kltnds which could be shut against
(torns and opened to the sunlight. 1t
Sas as big as half a dozen prairie
kabins. It had been erected by the
(irst Ninian Edwards a few years be-
lore his death and 1t reflected his
Immense wealth In community which
was too new yet for wealth to be
common. And Abraham Lincoln. walk
Ing toward 1t, realized that such wealth
could never be his. The realization did
not depress him. Money never meant
anything to him.
Matilda Edwards in q dress Of
silk over eight petticoats
swished down the stairs in her hoop
skirt with Elizabeth Edwards. her
cousins wife. She knew she looked very
pretty and she was mildly excited at
the prospect Of meeting new men In
this new place. Ninian was waiting for
them into the large front parlor. They
heard their free colored butler admit
someone and few seconds later he
appeared and announced. Mr.. Abr'am
Lincoln" and Matilda was looking at
the tallest man she had ever seen.
He moved awkwardly into the room.
his manner constrained and formal.
She saw him shake hands with Ninian
and bow to Elizabeth and she heard
Ninian say, Miss STANDARDIZATION
may I present my friend, Abraham
Lincoln" She stretched out her hand
and saw and felt 1t disappear into his
huge one She looked up into deep
gray eyes that were friendly and warm.
Then she forgot him for the butler
vas announcing Mr.. Stephen Douglas
and she had her first glimpse of the
little giant" of whom she had heard
much. He was handsome and agrees
5!ve but he was small, scarcely over
ne was q boy with a beard. But he
moved confidently into her conscious
ness, almost shouldering the tall Lin
coin aside.
Others came-Mr. John T. Stuart,
Mr.. Lincoln,s law partner. whom she
already knew. and a boy her own age,
William Herndon, home for short
'isit from Illinois college. Later he
old her that its object was discipline.
ie had gotten into a small scrape and
had been called home by his father
or an admonition. There was o. H.
a member Of the legislature.
snd MRS. BroWnlng, otner legislators
md their wives.
Young Herndon and Stephen Doug
as did their best to monopolize her
the evening She found Mr..
Ierndon very young and Mr.. Douglas
'ery magnetic. She told herself he
would be romantic II he weren't 50
my
Whenever she looked past any group
.ho {n NA hn In,
'oln's eyes upon her She did not mind.
She knew that he liked her and she
'ound that 1t made her glad. She
hought 1t would be nice II she could
gain his confidence and have him tell
Ter about Ann Rutledge. Once she
ound chance to talk to him.
II have heard great deal about
'ou, Mr.. Lincoln" she told him My
'ousin is always speaking of you"
Il am honored," he said stiffly II
lave known Ninian several years. We