The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-06-08
NOVELIST sTevENsoN's WIFE.
She Was the Wife of an Indiana Man and
Got a Divorce.
kansas City Times.l

Got Divorce.
kansas City Timesl
An official high in the employ of the
government said to me the other day:
The story of how Robert Louis Stevenson
got his wife has never been told In print,
l believe. The story sounds almost like
chapter from novel, but is. nevertheless,
absolutely true IN all its details
I'm 1870 l, young man, became init
mately acquainted with Samuel c. 0s-
borne, who was then private secretary to
Governor Willard of Indiana. Osborne
was a magnificent fellow in personal ap-
pearance and magnetism. He was versa
tile, scholarly, witty, quick as the light
nlng's flash in repartee and a fine musi-
clan. That man could draw sweeter tones
from flute than any man l ever knew.
Well, IN 1888 Osborne married a black
eyed Miss Nandegrift; she was not beau
tiful by any means, but rather attractive.
At that time he was in the Office OF the
reporter OF the supreme court of Indiana
and was making good money.
I'm 1861 James B. Beach, reporter of
the supreme court, and Osborne, both of
whom had saved uD few thousands of
dollars. started for Arizona. Sam had his
wife and two children, a boy and girl,
and be took them along. Arrived in Ari-
IONA, Beach and Osborne bought a mine
with their savings, and in about a month
were offered 100000 in cash for their
bonanza. Beach wanted to hold on for a
larger offer. and inside of six weeks they
could notIsell it for dollar. Osborne
headed for san Francisco and reached the
Golden Gate with s. in his pocket. He
knew a good deal of law and was a good
stenographer, one of the fastest in the
country at that time. This accomplish
ment stood him in hand, for he was soou
making lots of money and sometimes, he
used to write to me. he would get 81 900
for reporting q single case. As years went
on the daughter and son grew up and we're
sent abroad to finish their education. The
son went to England and the daughter to
France. The mother went to Europe and
spent a season or two with them.
The last time Mrs. Osborne went over
was in 1888, and then she met Robert
Louis Stevenson-I believe il was in Paris.
She at once wrote back to her husband
and told OF meeting the literary genius,
and told of an affection she had formed
Tor him. Osborne evidently thought this
more than merely platonic affection and,
l guess, had good reason to think so, for
he wrote her that if she loved Stevenson
to come back to Frisco and obtain q di-
vorce. She did this and as soon as the
divorce was granted the invitations for her
marriage to Robert Louis Stevenson were
sent out The groom was in town during
the divorce proceedings. Osborne was
invited to the wedding and he accepted.
He appeared on that evening dressed
faultlessly and having on his arm lady
of rare beauty. The wedding over, the
new Mrs. Stevenson introduced her new
husband to her former one, and Osborne
in turn presented the lady on his arm as
Mrs. Samuel c. Osbornel He had been
married quietly to her as soon as the di-
vorce was granted. Osborne would make
no outward sign, but the episode broke
his heart, He went to Australia and
Stevenson TO Samoa. have never heard
from Osborne since. The places and men
that knew him know him no more and
do not know whether he is living or dead."