That still kills me. I cannot but
reproach myself for even wishing to be happy while she is
otherwise. She accompanied a large party on the railroad cars
to Jacksonville last Monday, and on her return spoke, so that
I heard of it, of having enjoyed the trip exceedingly. God be
praised for that."
Evidently Lincoln was still unreconciled to his separation from Miss
Todd. In the summer of 1842, only three or four months after the above
letter was written, a clever ruse on the part of certain of their
friends threw the two unexpectedly together; and an understanding
of some kind evidently was come to, for during the season they met
secretly at the house of one of Lincoln's friends, Mr. Simeon Francis.
It was while these meetings were going on that a burlesque encounter
occurred between Lincoln and James Shields, for which Miss Todd was
partly responsible, and which no doubt gave just the touch of comedy
necessary to relieve their tragedy and restore them to a healthier
view of their relations.
THE LINCOLN AND SHIELDS DUEL.
Among the Democratic officials then living in Springfield was one
James Shields, auditor of the State. He was a hot-headed, blustering
Irishman, not without ability, and certainly courageous; a good
politician, and, on the whole, a very well-liked man.
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