red all the youthful orators and statesmen of that day, and where
many exciting arguments and discussions were held. Lincoln and Douglas
both took part in the discussion held in Speed's store. Douglas was
the acknowledged leader of the Democratic side and Lincoln was rapidly
coming to the front as a leader among the Whig debaters. One evening in
the midst of a heated argument Douglas, or "the Little Giant," as he was
called, exclaimed:

"This store is no place to talk politics."

HIS FIRST JOINT DEBATE.

Arrangements were at once made for a joint debate between the leading
Democrats and Whigs to take place in a local church. The Democrats were
represented by Douglas, Calhoun, Lamborn and Thomas. The Whig speakers
were Judge Logan, Colonel E. D. Baker, Mr. Browning and Lincoln. This
discussion was the forerunner of the famous joint-debate between
Lincoln and Douglas, which took place some years later and attracted
the attention of the people throughout the United States. Although Mr.
Lincoln was the last speaker in the first discussion held, his speech
attracted more attention than any of the others and added much to his
reputation as a public debater.

Mr. Lincoln's last campaign for the Legislature was in 1840. In the same
year he was made an elector on the Harrison presidential ticket, and
in his canvass of the State frequently met the Democratic champion,
Douglas, in debate. After 1840 Mr. Lincoln declined re-election to the
Legislature, but he was a presidential elector on the Whig tickets of
1844 and 1852, and on the Republican ticket for the State at large in
1856.

MARRIES A SPRINGFIELD BELLE.

Among the social belles of Springfield was Mary Todd, a handsome and
cultivated girl of the illustrious descent which could be traced back to
the sixth century, to whom Mr. Lincoln was married in 1842. Stephen A.
Douglas was his competitor in love as well as in politics. He courted
Mary Todd until it became evident that she preferred Mr. Lincoln.

Previous to his marriage Mr. Lincoln had two love affairs, one of them
so serious that it left an impression upon his whole future life. One
of the objects of his affection was Miss Mary Owen, of Green county,
Kentucky, who decided that Mr. Lincoln "was deficient in those little
links which make up the chain of woman's happiness." The affair ended
without any damage to Mr. Lincoln's heart or the heart of the lady.

STORY OF ANNE RUTLEDGE.

Lincoln's f