“I am perfectly delighted with your ‘Galaxy’ War article, but I wish you had not spoken for McClellan so freely. Still, I don’t see how you could have consistently given your opinions of the War without giving him his just due. It finishes Mr. Chandler as a friend, I fear, and for that I am sorry as he can be a very tenacious enemy, and of late has been only a passive friend. I honestly think you would be better off with some policy, with such powerful enemies. A cautious wife is a great bore, isn’t she, Autie?
“You improve every time you write. There is nothing like this McClellan article for smoothness of style. I have this month’s Galaxy with the Yellowstone article. How fortunate you had left it with Mr. Sheldon. I am anxious about the one you sent by the Buford mail. The mail was dropped in the Yellowstone and they must have attempted to dry it before the fire, for all our letters are scorched. Maggie’s to Jim had been re-enveloped at Buford.
“I think to ride as you do and write is wonderful. Nothing daunts you in your wish to improve. I wish your lines had fallen among literary friends. And yet, Autie, I wouldn’t have you anything but a soldier.
“It is the hottest day of the season, yet cold chills are running up and down my back at your description of the Yellowstone fight. I am glad you gave Tom his due. Of course you appreciate his valor as a soldier, yet you do not want to be puffing your own family. Mother will be pleased for ‘Tommie.’ Your mention of him would satisfy the most exacting of mothers.
“I cannot but commend your commendation of General Stanley. To ignore injury and praise what ispraiseworthy is the highest form of nobility. I could not do it. My soul is too small to forgive.
“I know you have a gift for finding roads, but how nice of General Terry to acknowledge your skill and perseverance that way.
Maggie and Lorena are entertaining Dr. X and Mr. G in the parlor. I went in, for manners, but was too heavyhearted to stay. Mr. B called. He told me of Buttons’ resignation because Grant treated him unfairly, but it was withheld till after the convention.
“The wildflowers are a revelation, almost the first sweet-scented I have ever known. The house is full of bouquets.
“With your bright future and the knowledge that you are positive use to your day and generation, do you not see that your life is precious on that account, and not only because an idolizing wife could not live without you?
“I shall go to bed and dream of my dear Bo. Libbie.”*
“As I said, he never got to read this letter,” Libbie explained as she was putting the letter back into the envelope. “It was returned to me unopened by”—she paused for a moment, then glanced over at Falcon—“you. You brought it back to me, didn’t you? You brought this one to me the same time you brought Autie’s letter to me.”
Falcon nodded. “Yes,” he said quietly.
Wiping her tears again, Libbie tried to smile. “I know it is foolish to cry after all these years.”
“It isn’t foolish at all,” Falcon said.
“What did you do next, Mrs. Custer?” Rosie asked.
“May I answer that, Libbie?” Zane Grey asked.
Libbie smiled through her tears. “Yes, if you wish.”
“Libbie Custer has become a very successful writer, writing not only about General Custer, but other books, as well as articles for newspapers and magazines. She writes about public affairs, is considered expert on art, the opera, and ballet. And she is a lecturer, too. She talks about her husband, also about the social and economic status of women.
“For someone who was left only with a widow’s pension of thirty dollars per month, Libbie has overcome great odds because she is forceful and strong. She is also a very shrewd investor, who has become quite prosperous, and has traveled in England, Germany, Egypt, Turkey, China, and Japan.
“And,” Zane Grey said, smiling, “I am proud to say that she is not only a fellow writer. She is my friend.”
“Oh!” Rosie said, clapping her hands gleefully. “Oh, that is wonderful. But—”
“But what, dear?” Zane Grey asked.
“Whatever happened to the other lady? To Lorena?”
“I’m afraid I don’t know,” Zane Grey said.
“Oh, we kept in touch for a while,” Libbie said. “Lorena returned to Washington and married an English diplomat. When his assignment to Washington was over, they moved to England.”
“Does she live there now?”
“No, dear. She and her husband were coming to America for a visit. They were on the Titanic. Lorena survived, but her husband went down with the ship.”
“Oh,” Rosie said. “That’s awful. She was in love with two men, and both of them died. I wonder where she is now?”
“She’s in St. Louis, Missouri,” Falcon said, without any further explanation.
Zane Grey saw that Rosie was about to ask Falcon about Lorena, and sensing that Falcon didn’t want to talk about her, he asked a question of his own.
“Falcon, whatever happened to Clete Harris, Jim Garon, and Jay Bryans, the men who stole the Gatling guns? Did you ever run across them again?”
“Oh, yes,” Falcon said. “I ran across them again.”
