The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-06-12
MRS. ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.
Romantic Story of Her Marriage to the Fla
nous Novelist.
Kansas City Times.


Kansas City Times.
An official. high in the employ of the gov
ernment, said to mo the other day: The
story o. how Robert Louis Stevenson got
his wife has never been told in print. be-
Hove. The story sounds almost like
chapter from q novel. but Ia. nevertheless
absolutely true in all it's details.
In ISIS l. II young man. became init
matelv acquainted with samuel T..
Osborne. who Was then private secretary
10 Governor " lizard. of Indiana. Osborne
was magnificent fellow in personal ap-
pearance and magnetism. He was Versatile,
scholarly. witty, quick as the lightning's
flash IN Iepartee and fine musician. That
man coald draw sweeter tones from n tiute
than any man | over knew. Well in 1853,
Osborne married n black-eycd Miss Van
degrift; she waa not beautiful by apy
means. but rather Attractive. At that & me
he was in the office ot the Reporter of the
Supreme Court OF Indiana, AMI was making
good money.
lin 1851 James B. Beach Reporter OF the
Supreme Court. and Osborne, both of
whom had saved up q few thousands of
dollars. started for Arizona. Sam hud his
VIE and two children. u boy and girl.
and he took them along. Arrived in Arr
IONA Beach and Osborne bought mine
with their savings. and In about u month
were offered Sl0O.COD In cash for their 6o-
naDza. Beach wanted To hold for
larger offer, and inside Of six months they
could not sell it for a dollar. Osborne
headed for San Francisco. and reached tho
Golden Gate with 81 in his pocket. He
knew q good deal of law and Was good
stenographer. one of the fastest in the
country at that time. This ACCOMPLISHMENT
stood him IN hand. for he was soon making
Iots of money, and sometimes he used TO
write TO me. he would get 81 ,0C0 for report
| ing single case. AS years went on tho
! daughter and son grew mp. end were sent
| abroad to finish their education. The son
Went TO England and the daughter TO
! France. The mother went to Europe and
spent season or two with them.
Tho last time Mira. Osborne went over
WAS III 1888 and then she met Robert Louis
/ Sievenson-l believe 10 was in Paris She
| ut once wrote back To her husband and
! told OF meeting the literary genius and
! told OF M affection she had formed for him.
| Osborne evidently Thought THE more than
! "a merely platon:c affection, and. | guess
! had good reason to think so. for he wrote
| her that il she loyeG Stevenson 10 come
: Lack TO Frisco ana obtain n di vorcr She
! did this and as soon as the divorce WAS
granted the invitations for her mar
| riaQe 10 Robert lonis Stevenson wrre
| sent ont The bridegroom Was in town
during the divorce proceedings Osborne
/ was invited TO the wedding and he nc-
| copied. He appeared on that evening
! dressed faultlessly and having on his arm
/ n lady %! rare beauty. The wedding oyer
/ the new Mrs. Stevenson introduced her
new husband to her former one. and Os-
/ horne In turn represented the lady on his
| arm Mrs. Samuel C.. Osbornei He had
| been married quietly To her AS soon as the
| divorce was granted. Osborne would make