The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-03
THE WELLESLEY SCANDAL.
A London Actress Well on the Way to a
English Ducal COronet.

London Letter.
The case of Colonel Wellesley is one of the
most interesting that has been published for
long time. Wellesley, at one period of his
life, might have been regarded as the spoiled
child of fortune. In appearance he was
specimen of that splendid and almost fault
less beauty which is sometimes to be seen in
the men of the English upper class-tall,
thin, but muscular, fair-haired and with
features at once delicate and distinguished.
While still but comparative youth he had
reached, through the influence of his rela-
tives, the position of colonel in the guards.
Then he was appointed attache at St. Peters
burg, at which place | may mention he be-
came an acquaintance and friend of poor j.
A. MacGahan, the celebrated American
correspondent of the London Daily
News, who passed through the Russian
capital on his return from his wonderful
ride to Khiva. After this Wellesley be-
came First Military Secretary at Vienna, and
then public opinion began to cry out against
the extraordinary favors that were thus being
heaped in such rapid succession on the head
of the young soldier. He had, meantime,
married Lord Cowley's daughter-a marriage
apparently suitable in age rank and tastes
Things went we'll till Wellesley paid long
visit to London, ana there he had the misfor-
tune to 90 to the Gaety Theater. | have al
ready mentioned this popular place OF Lon
don entertainment. and it is certainly, though
not very large, the most significant instltu-
ton of the kind among us. 1t is
there that Connie Gilchrist snub-nosed and
silly-looking girl of about 10, wears the Ions
dale diamonds. 1t is there that, when the
theater itself closes and the stage-door opens
fashionable and dissipated youth-or, as they
are now called, our jeunesse stage-doorey-
waits, and ladies of the ballet, with salary
of about S. or $40 week, drive off in coaches
and four.
Kate Vaughan has long been the belle of
this theater She has no histrionic ability.
She has scarcely any voice, but she has a
grace in motion that may certainly be de-
scrbed as wonderful Before she met Welles-
ley she had already won many hearts, and
indeed, when he made her acquaintance for
the first time, was on friendly terms with
another member of the aristocracy From the
latter she agreed, after some persuasion, to fly
with Wellesley; and there is funny story
OF two special trains being sent from the
Charing Cross depot almost within an hour
of each other-the one bearing Miss Vaughan
away with the new lover and the other con-
veying the discarded and disconsoate friend.
Fhe sequel to the whole business came few
days ago Wellesley was brought before the
Divorce Court by his wife, made no defense
and, of course, was Immediately non-suited.
The story now goes that he intends immedi-
ately to make Kate his wife, and, if this be
true, her fortune will certainly be a curious
one. Colonel Wellesley, if l do not mistake
is the heir presumptive to the Duke of Well
ington, and the Duke is childless and upward
of seventy. If all this be true Kate, the
danseuse, will becom Kate, the duchess 1t
is not the first time that the aristocracy has
been recruited from the boards Of the British
stage,