The morning call., 1890-09-07
ALEX. H. STEPHENS.
Never Married Because He Fell in
Love With a Married Woman.

80 HERE was always much speculation
Xxx, during the lille OF Alexander H. Ste
eyE2S pheps why he never married, nor did
this speculation cease after he had gone to
the grave Il celibate. johnson & Browns
Life of Alexander II. Stephens gives one
version, and the Savannah News. upon the
authority of the lady interested gives an
other version, but as TO what is the best
founded, OF whether there is some founda-.
ton for both versions. the reader must draw
his own conclusions.
1.-THE Life OF Alexander ii. Stephens" al
luded 10 says that when Mr.. Stephens was
a teacher at Madison, Morgan County, Ga,
in the fall of 1882, lie lost his heart. 1t says:
"One little episode not noted here, or even
stated By him until nearly forty years after
this occurrence, we may briefly advert TO.
One Of the pupils at this school was young
girl, lovely both in Ierson and in character,
from whom the young teacher learned more
than is 10 be found in the books, and whom
he grew to love with depth Of affection all
the greater that 1t was condemned 10 nope
lessneSs and silence. The roor student, with
no prospect of worldly advancement, the IN
valid " no looked forward to an early death,
must not think OF marrying-must not speak
of love. And he never spoke of it to her nor
to any one until generation had passed.
and then to but one friend"
The other version of Mr.. Stephens early
love is located in Savannah, which he visited
in the fall OF 1894, and the authority of the
story is Mrs. Caroline Regina Maria Smith, a
lineal descendant of Lord Richard Perciyal
Bland. Mrs. Smith says that when Mr..
Stephens was in Savannah he met herself,
then the wife Of Edward Thomas Courte-
nav, her unmarried sister Belle and their
father, and after the meeting Mr.. Stephens
asked permission to Pay hs les to Mr
hone, related to his daughter Belle what
Mr.. Stephens had said, and she very pet
tishly said that she would not receive Mr..
Stephens for a suitor, whereup0n Mr..
Courtenay spoke up and sad:
81 think my wife is the younger looking
and the most handsome, and would not be
surprised if Mr.. Stephens fell in love with
my wife, instead of you, Belle"
The father of the ladies, patting his mar
red daughter on the shoulder in an atfec-
tionate way, said:
III would not be surprised if Courtehay is
right: | shall see Mr.. Stephens and bring
him around to tea this evening, and then he
will find out.
Later in the afternoon Mr.. Bland met Mr..
Stephens in the Office of Mr.. McLawS and
asked him to which of the ladies he referred,
and MIR. Stephens described the personal
appearance of Mrs. Courtenay, and re-
marked that she was the only lady he had
ever met and loved at first sight, to which
confession Mr. Bland made reply that the
lady in question had been married. Mr..
Stephens rejOined that he did not care If she
had been married; that he desired to renew
his request 10 pay his addresses to her, and
then Mr.. Bland said:
"My daughters husband is living, and you
see how vain your request is.
A shade Of pain passed over the face OF
Mr.. Stephens, and the invitation to tea was
declined.
Orders have been sent from Victoria, B. c.,
to recall the militia from Wellington.