While the religious question was being discussed Abe Lincoln was watching the nimble fingers of Ann Rutledge as with one hand on the top side and one under the quilt she wove the tiny white stitches on the red and green and blue.
Presently the hand of Abe Lincoln disappeared under the quilt. The next minute a look of surprise showed on Ann's face as she whispered, "Turn loose of my hand."
"I'm just trying to learn how it 's done," he whispered back.
Ann looked about. Nobody was paying any attention to them. She tried to move her hand but it was held as fast as if in a vice.
"I'll holler," she said.
"No, you won't," he whispered back.
Then Ann jerked her hand and for the moment it was free.
She bent her slightly flushed face over the quilt and was soon making the white stitches again.
But Lincoln's hand was yet under the quilt, and before she had crossed the red tulip she felt her hand again imprisoned.
"Let go," she whispered, turning a flushed face to him and trying to work with one hand.