PRESIDENT STEYN'S LIFE ROMANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 293, 11 December 1899, Page 5

PRESIDENT STEYN'S LIFE ROMANCE.

•HOW HE WOOED AND WON A

CHARMING BRIDE.

President Stey.n, a prominent figure in the present trouble, spent his earlier years •with his maternal grandmother at Bloemfontein. .. >■■ . ...

This good lady waslthe wife of the famous Boer leader "and pioneer, Wessels—a man with" Som^ sterling qualities, whose memory the Boers hold in the highest reverence, Mrs Wessels was a fit wife for?such a husband—brave, determined, patriotic, gentle, and loving. The natives disputed every step the "trekking" Boers 'took in their country; but they ■ were hardly more dangerous than the lions which prowled about in large numbers. Many a time in the dead of night steyn's' grandmother, when a young married woman, had to fly from impending death in one form or another, one child in her arms, another running toy her side clinging to her skirts. In later years, when the Boers had settled down to cultivate their farms and the Wessels ■were able to look back on the stoi-mydays that had passed, a phrase that Steyn and his brothers heard often from their grandmother's lips was, "You are free men. See to it that you remain free." Steyn dwells upon the memory of this noble woman with affection and pride. The marriage of the President of the Free State is quite a little romance in itself. •He was intended for a- legal career, and when 19 years of age left South Africa. to pursue his studies in Europe. Onwthe same ship'was- a sweet, • ' WINSOME TjASSIE OP TWELVE, and the boy and the girl became boon companions, to the end of the voyage. Steyn studied with diligence and success. Sometimes he thought of his little travelling companion,and wondered if he should eve/see her again. . , _ ; Six years passed, and Steyn returned to .Bloemfontein a full-fledged, barrister. He had only been home a few days when he .attended a social function, and one of the first guests he was introduced to was a beautiful young lady of 18, in whom he quickly recognised his ship companion of six years before. Under similar circumstances young people are apt to call such a coincidence "destiny," and Steyn and his sweetheart were no exception to .the rule. His offer of marriage was accepted; but Steyn's financial position'did not warrant him in setting up liousekeeping just then, (i He had plenty of brains but few briefs to exercise them on. There was nothing for it but to wait and work. Steyn travelled a great deal in circuit, ■and the letters for his sweetheart he addressed^ecretly to a mutual friend, upon whom Miss Fraser—for such was ,the young lady's name—called every day for her billet-doux. Bloemfontein even now is no. bigger than a decent-sized English village; in those days it was so small that everybody made a point of knowing everybody else's business. Consequently people were quick to notice the friendship that had sprung up between Miss Fraser and

Steyn's friend in the barrister's absence, and the general impression was that this gentleman was ' trying' to "steal Steyn's sweetheart from him, thus proving himself a traitor to Steyn and unworthy of recognition by any honest, fair-dealing resident of Bloemfontein! Friends deserted the unhappy man; where once he was met with smiles he saw nothing but frowns; but he stuck loyally to his trust despite it all.

When Steyn returned to Bloemfontein people received him with veiled expressions of commiseration. Steyn could not understand it; he hastened to the re^dence of the gentleman who had been afting as his "postman" and inquired the meaning of it all. Pie roared with laughter when he heard of the conclusion his fellow-townsmen had jumped to; and how surprised those good but misguided folk were when they saw the rising young barrister and "the base deceiver" walking arm-in-arm through the ■ streets may be readily imagined. At. last Bloemfontein learned the truth. They had much to ask forgiveness fbr from the man upon whom they had too quickly passed judgment, and he was feted and banqueted for many clays thereafter. The marriage of Advocate Steyn and Miss Fraser.rounded off a pretty little romance; but whether "the postman" acted as "best man"—if there is isuch an office at a Boer wedding—deponent sayeth not.

In this wise did the man who is figuring so prominently in the Transvaal war, meet, woo, and win a charming bride. . ..