"Help me up again," she whispered, and she rested her head on his shoulder. She had been dry-eyed and had spoken with a steady voice. Now there was a sob in her voice and her eyes were blurred with tears as she said: "Put your arms around me--your big, long, strong arms--and hold me tight--tight. Oh, Abraham! if you could only hold me tight enough to keep me here with you! I do not want to be bad, but I do not want to go and leave you--no, not even to be with God! Oh, Abraham! will you pray that I may stay with you--will you?" "Pray? Pray?" he groaned in pain. "I will pray every minute. I will pray while I walk with my rod and chains, crossin' the fields, skirtin' the woods, walkin' the streets, everywhere I will pray." Ann coughed and Lincoln put her down. He smoothed the coverlet and brushed back her red-gold hair. Then again he straightened up to his full stature. "Ann, we've both been frightened. Your cough is better--it is looser. I am sure of it. Isn't it, Ann?" There was an appeal in his tone and face. Ann smiled--a bright, sweet smile. To Lincoln it was full of hope. "Nothing hurts me," she answered. Her smile was reassuring. Something of the anxiety went out of his face. "Yes, you are better. If I were not sure of it I would not leave this house. When I come again you will be still better. God is not going to have it otherwise. I have never done Him any harm." "Dear, dear Abraham--how I love you. How I shall always love you--here or over there. For though my body is weak, that part of me which loves is strong and well--very strong, and it loves you, my Abraham. It will be yours, and will be with you longer than the mind of man can measure--for I know now that love is stronger than death." CHAPTER XXXII THE UNFINISHED SONG During the month of August, 1835, an epidemic, called by different names, one of which was black ague, visited the country about New Salem. Dr. Allen was busy riding night and day, and Abe Lincoln, who himself had suffered one chill and was taking peruvian bark to prevent a second one, went with him whenever he could get the time, to nurse the sick and sometimes help make a coffin and bury the dead. Through Dr. Allen, Abe heard from Ann, the good doctor's information always being that Ann was about the same, and believing her better her big lover went to others who seemed to need him. Then Davy was stricken down and Abe Lincoln made his plans to go out to the Rutledge farm and stay as long as needed to nurse him. His visit was hastened by news that Ann had had a chill, and he knew, though Dr. Allen's words were few, that he was alarmed. "She must not have another," the good doctor said. "She is too frail to stand it." With a heart almost stopped by fear Lincoln reached the farm. His greeting by Mrs. Rutledge and her smiling face reassured him.