The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-10-11

A Romance of the Virginia Hills Has
Sequel in New York C0urt--The
Author of ''rhe Quick Or the Dead, -
and Her Love Affair--Tuyned From
Literature to Art, and Then Retired
10 AIbemarIe County TO Ponder Over
Her Step Into Matrimony.
NEW YORK, Oct. 9-Mr. w. g. Max
well, of the law firm Of Chanler, Max
well & Phillip, is authority for the state
ment that a decree of d v0rce, on the
ground of incompatibiiity, has been
granted Mrs. Amelie Rives- Chanler. 1t
is stat d there was no opposition to the
decree, and that nothing in the plead
ings or the proceedings reflected on
either of the parties.
Mr. Maxwell positively declines to
give any further information
Amelie Rives-Chanler, while simply
Amelie Rives, suddenly burst on the
world with a feveri>h volume called
"The Quick or the Dead" This was
about eleven years ago. The book was
well written, fairly plotted, but sue
ceeded rather for the flavor of fever in
it than of any merit whether of the
story itse or the style of the English
employed in telling it. Altogether it
was not of the sort a cold or careful
Judge would describe as "healthful
literature"
But 1t passed; was very widely re
ceived; omniverously read, and at
bound made the name of Amelie Rives
famous. 1t had great run in seminaries,
where romantic young women read it
unknown to their teachers
Hard on the heels of THE Quick or
the Dead" pictures of Miss Rives found
a wide circulation, showing the profile of
eyes, Wind-tumbled hair, and a general
air of romance and dishabille clothing
the whole.
She was also reputed to be the mistress
of many large, fierce dogs, who accom-
panied her in her cratic Wanderings
about the Albemarle county hills and
guarded her ferocioasly from the casual
tramp and other monsters who might do
her harm.
At that time she had all the airs and
habits of profound genius, and reports
to this effect added to her book, THE
Quick or the Dead" caused her to be
much discussed and widely celebr ated.
lie Wooed and Won Her.
Despite the dogs John Armstrong
Chanler about seven years ago appeared
on the scene and got near enough to
Miss Rives to woo and wiz her At that
time she abode il the house of her father,
Col. Rives, who lived and still lives on
farm near Caste Hill, Albemarle
county, Va,
That is the farm near Castle Hill is
Col. Rives' home, albeit Col Rives, as
the head and manager of the Panama
Railway, is away almost all of every year
at Colon. Mrs. Riyes, however, resides
continuously at the farm near Castle
Hill, where fame found her daughter;
and Col. Rives comes home from Colon
once in twelve month to visit them all.
But to return to John Armstrong
Chanler, who, breaking through the
Gordon of big dogs who girt her rambles
about, won and welded this authoress of
the Aloemarle hills.
He is now about; thirty five years Of
age, large, athletic, frank, intelligent,
handsome. And he looked much the
same way when he dawned on Miss
Riyes in her musings and enlisted her
love.
John Armstrong Chanler-3he called
him 'Archie. although it is probable she
has been giving his name its correct pro-
nunciation fer some time was not only
handsome, bat rich, and with his money
was possessed of leisure enough to fully
devote himself to the genius of his wife
and her embodiment
So one day the two were mated; some
priest tied the knot, and the world rang
with the news thereof. The wedding
was exceedingly private, no one being
present but the mother Of the bride; Col.
Rives at the time being in Colon with
his Panama railway.
Then the happy two went to Europe
Mrs. Riyes Chanler, while abroad and
since her return, has written several
stories, but none which created the ex-
element which followed the appearance
of The Quick or the Dead "
1t is possible that this failure to par
allel her first success fed upon the young
authorizes. At any rate, the world be
gan I'd near III ubI DIS having very MuCu
turned her lack on literature, and
brush in hand, palette On thumb, bound
to paint pictures and become great
artist il oil. She daubed about in Paris,
in Rome, everywhere in Europe; in fact,
where good artists teach poor ones not
10 paint so badly, and charge nightly
for their instruction.
RumOrs OF Disagreement.
AT divers and sundry times the Chan
lers were heard from, and while the news
was always vague. it was agreeable
enough, and no one suspected any row
going on in the Chanler household.
Five months ago-they had been in
America some time then-a rumor for
the first time went about that the pair
were unhappy and did not agree. They
had no children, and, except it were a
personal one, there was no reason why
the two shouldn't sight il they mutually
felt like it; SO the world pai / but slight
heed to them. Mrs. Chanler, at that
time. went to her mothers home at Cas-