William Herndon, Lincoln's law partner, firmly believed that Ann Rutledge was Abraham Lincoln's first and only true love. This letter from Anns younger brother Robert, written in response to carefully prepared questions by Herndon, represents some of Herndons strongest supporting evidence. The story is that Lincoln, while boarding at the Rutledge home in New Salem, Illinois, fell in love with Ann. Although she was engaged at the time, her fiancé's long absence and seeming indifference had raised doubts in her mind. Over time, Ann and Abraham entered a quiet if not secret courtship and were supposedly planning to be married until Ann's untimely death.