ake things worse. I'm inclined to think
that I'd do better alone with that problem."

"I guess you're right," said Harry. "It would be like me to do something
foolish."

"And do it very thoroughly," Abe suggested. "You're in love with the
girl. I wouldn't trust your judgment in St. Louis."

"She hasn't let on to her parents that she's unhappy. Mother Traylor told
me that they got a letter from her last week that told of the good times
she was having."

"We know what that means. She can't bear to acknowledge to them that she
has made a mistake and she don't want to worry them. Her mother is in
part responsible for the marriage. Bim don't want her to be blamed. Eli
caught her off her guard and her heart and her face spoke to him."

In a moment Abe added: "Her parents have begun to suspect that something
is wrong. They have never been invited to go down there and visit the
girl. I reckon we'd better say nothing to any one of what we have heard
at present."

They reached New Salem in the middle of the night and went into
Rutledge's barn and lay down on the haymow between two buffalo hides
until morning.

CHAPTER XII

WHICH CONTINUES THE ROMANCE OF ABE AND ANN UNTIL THE FORMER LEAVES NEW
SALEM TO BEGIN HIS WORK IN THE LEGISLATURE. ALSO IT DESCRIBES THE
COLONELING OF PETER LUKINS.

The next day after his return, Abe received a letter for Ann. She had
come over to the store on the arrival of the stage and taken her letter
and run home with it. That Saturday's stage brought the new suit of
clothes from Springfield. Sunday morning Abe put it on and walked over to
Kelso's. Mrs. Kelso was sweeping the cabin.

"We shall have to stand outside a moment," said Jack. "I have an
inappeasable hatred of brooms. A lance in the hand of the Black Knight
was not more terrible than a broom in the hands of a righteous woman. I
had to flee from _The Life and Adventures of Duncan Campbell_ when I saw
the broom flashing in a cloud of dust and retreated."

He stepped to the door and said: "A truce, madam! Here is the Honorable
Abraham Lincoln in his new suit."

Mrs. Kelso came out-of-doors and she and her husband surveyed the tall
young Postmaster.

"Well it is, at least, sufficient," said Kelso.

"The coat ought to be a little longer," Mrs. Kelso suggested.

"It will be long enough before I get another," said Abe.

"It is not what one would call an elegant suit but it's all right," Kelso
added.

"The fact is, eleganc