About this time Lincoln appeared in New Salem and went to board at the Rutledge tavern.  Here he saw Anne, and was much in her company.  During the next year McNeill became restless and discontented.  He said it was because he wanted to see his people.  So he decided to go East on a visit.  He sold out his interests in New Salem—­an act not at all necessary if he were going only on a visit, and which in the light of after events had much significance—­telling Anne that it was his hope to bring his father and mother back with him and establish them upon his farm.  “This done,” he said, “we will be married.”  He then set out on his journey.

It was late in the summer before Anne heard from him.  He explained that he had been taken ill with chills and fever on the way, and had been long delayed in getting home.  But the long wait had been a great strain upon Anne.  Lincoln, meanwhile, had become the postmaster in New Salem, and it was to him that Anne came to inquire for letters.  He watched her anxiety with sympathy, and in a way became her confidant.  His tender heart, which never could resist suffering, was deeply touched at sight of her distress.  Finally McNeill’s letters ceased altogether; and then Anne confided to Lincoln something which McNeill had told her before he left, and which until now she had kept secret,—­namely, that his name was not McNeill but McNamar.  He had explained to her that he had made this change because his father had failed in business and that as his oldest son it was his duty to retrieve the family fortunes.  So he had changed his name, and come West, hoping to return in a few years to his family a rich man.  All this Anne had believed, and had not repeated until now.

All New Salem joined in declaring McNamar an impostor and his story a fabrication.  “Who knew how many wives he had?” they said.  With one accord Anne’s friends denounced him; and although his story turned out afterward to be not altogether false, it is small wonder that Anne herself at last came to believe that either he was dead or had ceased to love her.

While matters were in this state, Lincoln ventured to show his love for Anne.  It was a long time before she would listen; but, convinced at last that her former lover had deserted her, she promised, in the spring of 1835, to become his wife.  But Lincoln had nothing on which to support a family,—­in fact, could hardly support himself.  Besides, Anne was anxious to go to school another year.  So it was decided that she should spend the winter in an academy in Jacksonville, while Lincoln devoted himself to the study of the law.  Then, when she should return from school, he would be a member of the bar and they could be married.