Are the letters real?

Is Rosa-Alethea hallucinating?  What does she really find in the library?

Is this a good enough excuse to keep it a secret? Hide it from Horace?

(continued) 

Did Rosa-Alethea find a book?  That was never published?  Or that never existed?  Maybe she lost it and is trying to find it again.  She could lure Horace into going to all the places that Florence mentioned in the book.

What if she found it, but had to put it back.  Or perhaps there was a message on the wrapping stating that “If you remove me from my home, I will never return.”  Rosa-Alethea took the book not knowing that the words were like a curse.  She found it in the Library just before closing time.  When the librarian was making the final rounds, she came up to Rosa-Alethea from behind and said, 

“This is not allowed in here.” 

Rosa-Alethea immediately covered the book as she noticed the librarian picking up her can of (popular soda at that time).  

“Oh Sorry,”  I won’t do it again.

“The rules are clearly stated at the entrance.  No food or drinks allowed.”

“You’re absolutely right.  I’m sorry.”

She interrupted Rosa-Alethea, “It doesn’t matter.  We’re closing now.  Please collect your things and exit the building.”

Rosa-Alethea didn’t have time to put the book back in it’s hiding place.  She decided to return it the first thing in the morning. 

The next day, she returned the book.  The following day, it was gone.  

She never saw the book again.  But the memory of it stayed with her forever.  The story within it felt so real and so true.  But it was too fantastic to be real.  No one from Lamesa ever did this.  

A few months later, while working at the newspaper clerk’s office, she discovered the first clue that may lead to the author of the book.  

Questions: