The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-07-29

anu sir Archibald Milne Were Low
ers-The Secret Out.
London Correspondent New York Jour
nal.
An altogether new complexion has bean
put upon the Astor-Ailne controversy
by the discovery that the ex-Ameriean
nu!ti-miilionatre compelled the baronet
10 ledFe MS mousse on the night Of the
memorable concert a fortnight or so ago
because he objected to Sir Archibald. .
suit for the hand of his only daughter
Pauline. 8 i'ei >
1t was Miss Astor who invited the
oaronet to the entertainment. but With
out her fathers knowledge or approval
II Is wrong, therefore, to state that sir
1ArchlOalo was at Carleton House Ter
race without an invitation Moreover
his encounter with Mr.. Astor did NOT
take place as he was entering the salon
IL was after a tete-a-tete between the
oaronet and the heiress in a secluded
corner OF the winter garden--a tete .a-tete
which was suddenly interrupted bv the
fnfuriated father.
according to the story obtained from a
laoy IN rank, who has been in many re-
Spects the conf1dante of the lovers, and
VINO has furnished them with a number.
OF opportunities for meeting one another.
MISS Astor made the acquaintance Of Sir
archibald Milne at a theater party at
Her Majesty's theater last winter.
Sir Archibald is a very handsome, tan
man, with most perfect manners. and of
very old and aristocratic family. an old
messmate of the Duke Of York. with
whom he served on several ships. and a
particular favorite of the Prince and
Princess Of Wales.
1t was case of love at first sight
between the captain and Miss Aston
They managed to meet quite often at
various social functions, such as din
ners, receptions, balls, &c, and more re.
Gently quite a number Of dinners have
been given by kindly interested friends
Of one and the other for the express pur-
pose of enabling them to meet At all
such entertainments the two lovers were
invariably placed side by side at the
table
1t Is only quite lately that Mr. Astor
discovered his daughters attachment.
He at once announced his determination
to put stop to 1t. He entertained far
higher ambitions Of q matrimonial char,
acter for his daughter, and would nor
hear of her becoming the wife OF a mere
barcnet, possessed of little or no fortune,
instead of the duke or prince whom he
has been hoping to receive into his fam
lily as his son-in-law.
In spite of Mr.. Astor's disapproval the
attachment grew in fervor, and, despite
all obstacles placed in their way, the
lovers continued to meet Miss Astor
urged the captain to come to her fathers
house, and it was in response to her re-
quest that he came hoping that in the
crowd he would be able to have a quiet
moment with her.
Sir Archibald, on being apostrophized
by Mr.. Astor and asked to leave his
house, did so quickly. It was only on the
following day, after seeing the amazing
paragraph in the Pail Mall Gazette, that
he, anxious to shield the name of Miss
Astor, gave out the story that he had
been taken to the Aston concert by the
American-born Countess Of oxford, to act
as her escort in the place Of the earl,
who is i'll.
In view Of the sensation created by the
by the Pail Mall Gazette paragraph and
the kindly sympathy of the Prince and
Princess OF Wales, as well as Of the Duke
Of York. all three of whom were already
aware Of the 1nfatuation of Sir Archibald
the latter made a clean breast of the
whole affair to his future king, who
promptly took up the cudgels in his be-
half
The prince began by causing his secre-
tary, Sir Francis Knollys, to write very
strongly worded letter to Mr.. Astor charg-
ing him with a most unjustthable and
unworthy attempt to publicly undermine
the character Of an officer, a gentleman
and fellow member of the Marlborough
club. and gave him the option of publicly
withdrawing the Objectionable paragraph
or Of making the whole facts known.
1t was in consequence of this action on
the part of the prince that Mr. Astor
printed the sort Of half hearted apology
in the Pail Mall Gazette three days ago.
But it has been considered unsatisfactory
by the prince and by the other friends Of
Sir Archibald, all Of whom feel that the
indignity placed upon him, not only in
his private capacity, but also In that Of
a captain of the Royal navy, calls for
more ample satisfaction than Mr.. Astor
has as yet conceded.
Had Sir Archibald belonged to the navy
of a continental power he would ere this
have been compelled, under penalty Of
dismissal and social ostracism, to fight
Mr.. Aston or to secure from him the most
abJeet apology. While military and naval
regulations here are less stringent in
such matters, much the same code pre-
walls In higher class of English society.
This gives peculiar significance to the
sudden departure Of Sir Archibald for
Marlenbad, Germany, where Mr.. Astor IS
now staying He is understood to have
gone with the object of securing the sat
isfaction which his friends consider it in
dispensable that he should obtain.
Inc Satisfaction may take the FORM Oh
a duel, for Aston Is very obstinate and
a splendid swordsman. It Is possible,
too. that 1t may take the form Of still
more ample apology on the part Of Mr..
Aston, and possible even of his consent to
his daughters marriage to Sir Archibald,
now that he sees how high the baronet
stands in the favor Of the royal family.
Meanwhile, the committee of the Mari
boro club has suspended action. If Mr..
Aston declines to fight, to apologize or to
give his consent to a marriage, his eX-
pulsion from the Marlborough, from the
Carlton and from all other clubs Of which
he Is now member is assured.