Let the waltz begin

[RJNorton]

Katherine Helm in her book Mary - Wife of Lincoln described the first meeting and dance between Mary and Abraham as follows:

"His gray eyes lighted with interest as he watched Mary's animated, piquant face and caught little snatching glimpses of satin slipper straps and gleaming silk-clad ankles under billowing masses of lace and organdy, as her hoops swayed in rhythm to the waltz music. Although he cared little for dancing, preferring to look on or talk to some of the more agreeable older members of an assemblage, he could not resist this bewitching creature and on being presented to her, he said:

"Miss Todd, I want to dance with you the worst way."

And Mary, with a roguish smile and a twinkle in her eyes, said after the party in recounting the incident to her cousin Elizabeth Todd, "And he certainly did."

Though Mary did not dance again that evening with Mr. Lincoln she felt his eyes were following her and when during an intermission she saw him making a bee line in her direction, she promptly, too promptly, held her program out that he might see for himself that it was filled to overflowing. She did not wish again to put in jeopardy her little pink satin slippers. But the dimple in her cheek seemed to say, "I am sorry."