Lincoln, the unknown

64•LINCOLN THE UNKNOWNa friend but you Know his peculiar manner and his Generaldeportment would not be likely to fascinate a YoungGirl just entering into the society world. ... He seemedallmost like an older Brother being as it were one of mysister's family.Lincoln frequently wrote editorials for the local Whig paper,"The Springfield Journal"; and the editor, Simeon Francis, wasone of his closest friends. Francis's wife, unfortunately, hadnever learned the fine art of minding her own business. Childless,over forty, she was the self-appointed match-maker ofSpringfield.Early in October, 1842, she wrote Lincoln, asking him tocall at her home the following afternoon. That was a strangerequest, and he went, wondering what it could mean. When hearrived, he was ushered into the parlor; and there, to his astonishment,he saw Mary Todd sitting before him.What Lincoln and Mary Todd said, and how they said it,and what they did, that is not recorded. But of course the poor,tender-hearted fellow hadn't a chance to escape. If she criedand of course she did—he probably delivered himself into herhands at once, and abjectly apologized for having gotten outof her hands.They met often after that, but always secretly and behindclosed doors in the Francis home.At first Mary didn't let even her sister know that Lincolnwas seeing her again.Finally, when her sister did find out, she asked Mary "whyshe was so secretive."And Mary replied "evasively that after all that had occurred,it was best to keep the courtship from all eyes and ears. Menand women of the world were uncertain and slippery, Marycontinued, and if misfortune befell the engagement, all knowledgeof it would be hidden from the world."In other words, to put it bluntly, having learned a little lesson,she resolved to keep even the courtship secret, this time,until she was positive that Lincoln would marry her.What technique did Miss Todd now employ?James Matheny declared that Lincoln often told him "that hewas driven into the marriage, and that Miss Todd told him hewas in honor bound to marry her."