No one could look on her face without feeling her perfect
sincerity and goodness. Some months before Mrs. Brown's death, in
August, 1895, a copy of Mr. Herndon's story was sent her, with a
request that she write for publication her knowledge of the affair. In
her reply she said:
"Did Mr. Lincoln fail to appear when the invitations were out, the
guests invited, and the supper ready for the wedding? I will say
emphatically, 'No.'
"There may have been a little shadow of foundation for Mr. Herndon's
lively imagination to play upon, in that, the year previous to the
marriage, and when Mr. Lincoln and my cousin Mary expected soon to be
married, Mr. Lincoln was taken with one of those fearful, overwhelming
periods of depression, which induced his friends to persuade him to
leave Springfield. This he did for a time; but I am satisfied he
was loyal and true to Mary, even though at times he may have doubted
whether he was responding as fully as a manly, generous nature should
to such affection as he knew my cousin was ready to bestow on him. And
this because it had not the overmastering depth of an early love. This
everybody here knows; therefore I do not feel as if I were betraying
dear friends."
[Illustration: RESIDENCE OF NINIAN W. EDWARDS, SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.
From a photograph made for MCCLURE'S MAGAZINE in February, 1896.
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