HOW R. L. STEVESSON WON HIS WIFE.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8125, 5 March 1895, Page 4

HOW R. L. STEVESSON WON HIS WIFE.

A Government oQicial in the Stales t^lla the following atory : In 1835 I, a young man, bec*mo in'hmt^ly acquainted with Samuel 0. Odborne. who wos then private secretary to Governor Williard, of Indiana. Chborne w«a a mnnnifioent follow in peisonal pppoaronco nnd magnetism. Ho was versatile, Rclnlarly, witty.quick aa the lightning's fUsh at repartee, and a fine musician Thab man ciu'd draw Bweetor tones from a fluto than any man I ever knew. Well, in 1858 Oiborne married a blockeyed Mis 9 Vundergritt ; she waa not beautiful by any moans, but rather attractive, At that t ma ho wai in the office of tho loporter of the Supremo Court of In 'iana,and waa makng good money. The couplo had two children — a son and a daughter. As years went on tbo daughter and son grew u-i, nu I were a°nt abroad to finish thoir oduca ton. The ion wont) to England and the daughter to France. The mother went to Kurope, and spent a season or two with them. The last time Mrs Oa b> rje went over was in 1883, and then Hhe met Rob rt Louis HjvenEon, T believe it was in Pa in. She nt onco wrotoback to hnr husband, mentioned her mee'ing the literary goniu*, and told of an affeotion she had formed for him. Osborne evident'y though 1 ) this a merely platonic afleotion, and, I guos?, had good reason to think 00, for he wrote her if ehe loved Stevensoa to | come back to 'Frisco and obtain a I divorce. She did thia, and aa soon aj the divorce was granted tho invitations for her marriage to Robert Loui3 Stevenson wer) sent out. The bridegroom wns in town during tho divorce proeppdin^s. Osborne was invited Ij the wedding, and he acceptad. Ho appeiredontlnt oveni-ig dressed faultlessly, aod having on his arm a lady of rare beauty. The wedding over, tho uew Mrs Stevenson introduced her new husband to her formor one, and Osborno in return presented tho lady on his arm as Mrs Samuel 0. O3borne ! He had been married quiet'y to her as soon as the divorce wai granted. Osborno would make no outward sign, but tho epUodo broke his heart. Ho went to Australia and Stevenson to Samoa. I have never hoard from Osborne since. The places and men that knew him know him no more, and I do not know whether he is living or dead,

Tbero is no oa'amity like ignorance. Virtue in its grandesb nspecb ia noither more or 1e33 than following reason. Editor (to tipsy reporter)-—' Whab are you writing about) V Reporter— 1 Whisky.' Editor — ' Well, I see your full of your Bubjecb. fc'olioitor — ' Whab paper does yonr neighbor bake V Irate citizen—.' Mine, I gaeai, I onu'b find ib moro'o LftU bho