St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-01-14
A RoMANcER's ROMANCE.
How Stevenson Won Another
Mans Wife Away From Him.

A San Francisco dispatch to the New
York World gives this bit of Novelist
Robert Louis Stevenson's personal his
tory: Stevenson first came here about
eight years ago to get married. His
bride he met in France when she was
the wife of a Californian. When
Stevenson was taking that trip that
bore fruit in his book, can Inland
Voyage" he met in Paris Mrs. Samuel
Osborne, Of San Francisco. She came
of Dutch parentage, her maiden name
being Van Degrift, but she had married
young Sam Osborne, who was private
secretary to Senator Stanford,
and somewhat Of protege of
the railroad millionaire. She was
a brilliant brunette, with the
vivid coloring and many Of the tastes of
a Gypsy. Her husband had gone with
her on vacation, but he had been re-
called Oh business, and she was then
staying with friends in the French CAPT
tai. She and Stevenson fell in love at
first sight. Their literary and personal
tastes ran in the same channels, and
the author spent much time in her COM
pany.
s'DIvORCE."
When she left her home it was un-
'derstood that she was to get divorce
from her husband by means OF the easy
processes of the California courts, and
when this was accomplished Stevenson
would come out to the Golden State and
make her his wife. Everything was
carried out according to this pro-
gramme. When Sam Osborne was told
of the desire of his wife. he made no OBJ
lection, but, like a model American
husband, gave his wife all the aid in his
power. The result was that she OBJ
tanned her freedom. Then the tidings
were sent to the distant lover, and he
prepared to come ''come out into the
West'' for his inamorata.
WITH THE SINNERS IN THE sTEERAGE.
Original in everything, Stevenson de-
termined to take this trip in novel fash
ion. So he engaged passage In the
with the design of writing up his ex-
periences. He secured plenty of ma
terial, for the voyage was rough, and he
had sorry time among the emigrants.
who were herded together like sheep.
This experience, however, didn't cure
him, as he took passage in an emigrant
car and crossed the plains in that fash
ion. This was worse than the steerage
trip, as the people we're packed closely,
and the journey, owing to the many de-
lays and slow time, consumed two
weeks.
SELF-SACRIFICING SAM.
When Stevenson reached San Fran
cisco he was a sorry object. He had a
hacking cough, spat blood, and had con-
tracted a troublesome skin disease from
herding with unclean emigrants. Foul
air and poor food had reduced his
strength, and he was semi-invalid.
He was received, however, with open
arms. AS soon as he was cleaned
up by a series of sulphur baths
and a trifie recovered from the.
fatigue of the long journey the wedding
was held. The remarkable feature OF
it was that Sam Osborne was present
and gave away the bride, his ex-wife,
with the heartiness of manner that
might have been expected in the most
disinterested person, while he capped
the climax of his performance by intrQ-
ducing to the bride and groom a handf
some and styliShly-dressed young Wonl-
an as his affianced wife.
WAS OSBORNE A HYDE?
The marriage feast was very gay, and
soon after it was over Stevenson went
with his bride to deserted mining
camp on Howell mountain, in Napa
county, to recuperate his health. {.
1t is curious fact that Osborne, to
whose good nature Stevenson was in
debted for his wife, disappeared shortly
after his second marriage. He dropped
out of his old life and his old haunts
here between two days, and no one ever
learned any trace of him.