hemselves of the
opportunity in this way. I had to content myself with standing on the
levee and watching proceedings at long range."

The party had scarcely reached the sand-bar before they were joined by
some unexpected friends. Lincoln and Merryman, on their way to Alton,
had stopped at White Hall for dinner. Across the street from the hotel
lived Mr. Elijah Lott, an acquaintance of Merryman's. Mr. Lott was not
long in finding out what was on foot, and as soon as the duellists had
departed, he drove to Carrollton, where he knew that Colonel John J.
Hardin and several other friends of Lincoln were attending court, and
warned them of the trouble. Hardin and one or two others immediately
started for Alton. They arrived in time to calm Shields, and to aid
the seconds in adjusting matters "with honor to all concerned."

That the duellists returned in good spirits is evident from Mr.
Levis's reminiscences: "It was not very long," says he, "until the
boat was seen returning to Alton. As it drew near I saw what was
presumably a mortally wounded man lying on the bow of the boat. His
shirt appeared to be bathed in blood. I distinguished Jacob Smith, a
constable, fanning the supposed victim vigorously. The people on the
bank held their breath in suspense, and guesses were freely made as
to which of the two men had been so terribly wounded. But suspense was
soon turned to chagrin and relief when it transpired that the supposed
candidate for another world was nothing more nor less than a log
covered with a red shirt. This ruse had been resorted to in order to
fool the people on the levee; and it worked to perfection. Lincoln
and Shields came off the boat together, chatting in a nonchalant and
pleasant manner."

MARRIAGE OF LINCOLN AND MISS TODD.

The Lincoln-Shields duel had so many farcical features, and Miss Todd
had unwittingly been so much to blame for it, that one can easily see
that it might have had considerable influence on the relations of the
two young people. However that may be, something had made Mr. Lincoln
feel that he could renew his engagement. Early in October, not a
fortnight after the duel, he wrote Speed: "You have now been the
husband of a lovely woman nearly eight months. That you are happier
now than the day you married her I well know, for without you would
not be living. But I have your word for it, too, and the returning
elasticity of spirits which is manifested in your letters. But I want
to ask