The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-30


i'll in her room. Her daughter, Mrs.
Rose Osborne Strong, received me.
Mrs. Strong is a picturesque little
woman with foreign face, eyes like
sloes and the most wonderful black
hair, ~ inches in length, growing very
low on the forehead, parted and curling
about the temples and ears in tantaliz-
ing tendrils. she dresses in aesthetic
fashion, wearing loose flowing robes.
unc0nfined at the waist. From the small
ears swing great golden loops. The gilt
tering teeth fash kindly smile of vel
come; the great dark eyes speak volumes
Of CHEEKY hospitality. It is the face Of a
gypsy-a sibyl-and only requires a
scarlet handkerchief bound about the
dusky locks to make the illusion perfect.
my mother has boon so tortured "
she said, "by the false and ridiculous
stories which have been published about
her both in magazines and papers that
livery much doubt if she sees you. How
ever, will do all can for you. -
-Four days later I knocked again at
their door, and it was opened by Mrs.
Stevenson herself.
a Close Scrutiny.
AS Mrs. Strong was not in, intro
dEced lnyself and made known the OBJ
ject of my visit. Never before did I
undergo such scrutiny. Mrs. Stevenson
looked me through and through with
deeply contemplative eyes Suddenly a
smile broke over her face and she gave
me her hand. Come in, she said. 81
had shut myself up, resolved to see no
one, but I viii talk to you.
he Of A.
not and cannot give any idea Of the
wonderful charm and attraction of her
face, which 10 an older and more seri-
Gus edition OF her daughters. The gypsy
the sibyl-has grown a sphinx now.
The deep, glowing, burning eyes are
yelled and inserutable. Unspeakable sor-
row looks cut those windows, but cries
not aloud Not woman to lay bare her
soul to the public scalpeL One wonders
| necessarily what lies behind those eyes
and one realizes that only those very
| near and dear could ever discover just
the nature of this woman. The same
hair as the daughters only short in the
neck and silvery-that fine touch of
frost mingled with the hue Of the
raven s pluna ee-the straight, Egyptian
nose, the curved lips, the ghost of a
dimple lingering in the pale cheeks,
combine to render this face alluring
and fascinating. And when HRS Ste
vensen speaks, the soft rich, liquid voice,
| the perfect English-above all, the
steady, penetrating glance Of the mar
velous eyes-hold you in absolute thral-
/ dom.
Like Mrs. Strong, she wears loose
/ g
| black satin this morning-slightly open
at the throat. There are no ornaments
save the rings Of rare gems and fantastic
designs with which the small brown
hands are loaded. On one finger are
three very curious tortoise shell rings
given Mrs. Stevenson by Analeiza, a
very dear native woman friend. Mrs
Stevenson uses no gestures while talk
ing. She sits in her large chair, her
hands resting on tho arms, grave, in
scrutable, REFRESHING, her very posture
always suggesting the sphinx.
Il came here simply for the change
of climate, she said. my health was
very poor. I have been greatly benefited
by the change. I shall go back to Samoa
some time. How soon cannot say. ]
have no plans. I make none. 3"
Mrs. Stevenson Annoyed.
els is true that you will publish 8
volume of memoirs Of ldr. Stevenson?''
''No, never write. h."
'Did you not assist Mr.. Stevenson in
his work-do a great deal of copying
for hin?''
'No. Rose. my daughter, did that.
My eyes are too weak. I know it has
been repeatedly stated that helped my
husband in that way, but it is not true.
A magazine article published just aftel
Mr.. Stevenson s death had as one Of its
illustrations picture of Rose copying
for my husband This picture was
caught by a friends kodak When We
heard that the article was to appear anc
that this picture was to be used as one
of the illustrations, Rose said, Well
Rt all events, shall 60 down to famt