Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-15
WESTMINSTER
DUCHESSFACES
GRAVE CHARGE
Husband Warns Heir to Dukedom
He Will Disown ChiId-Sym-
patty Apparently Shifts.
Special Gable to The American.

Special Gable to The American.
LONDON. June 1.-THE matri-
monial differences Of the Duke and
Duchess Of Westminster are proving
much more serious than was at first
supposed, and divorce is now con-
sidered unavoidable and imminent.
The first intimation the public had
of any differences between the richest
duke of England-SOmetimes called
the Astor of London, because he owns
more than half the property in the
district of Northumberland his wife
was recently, when she attended a
select function given by the King and
Queen at Buckingham Palace, at
which the Duke did not appear.
The Duchess attended the dance in
the Westminster state carriage, but
when she returned to Grosvenor house
she found the doors Of her own home
barred against her, the Duke having
given orders to the servants in her
absence that she should not be admit
ted
Queen SnUbbed Duke.
All this was recounted at the time
and the reason given was that the
Duke had not been invited to the
solree by the royal couple. the Queen
having purposely excluded him to
show her disapproval Of married men,
even Of Dukes who were VIGOROUSLY
unfaithful to their marriage vows.
The Duchess of Westminster is Ave
years her husbands senior, and peO-
pie of their set are recalling the con-
ditions of that marriage and are very
disposed to throw their sympathies
on the side OF the Duke. The story
of that marriage. ii appears, is this:
Il HN1
the then very young and unmarried
Duke went OF to South Africa, where
he distinguished himself for his brav-
cry and democratic bearing toward
his comrades. Not far away from
the field Of battle there waited and
watched a woman Mrs Atherton.
famed for her beauty. and also in re-
cent years somewhat notorious.
His Mother Is Ansered.
The Duke wrote back home to his
mother, Lady Grosvenor. that he was
going to marry Mrs Atherton, At
once the irate mother rushed on TO
her best friend. Mrs. George Corn
wallis West to take counsel
A conference was held, in which, Il
was said the late King Edward par
ticipated. Just before the home
coming Of the young Duke his en-
gagement was announced, not to Mrs
Atherton. but to Constance Edwina
CORVALLIS West the beautiful daugh-
ter OF Mrs George CORVALLIS West.
who was Miss Jennie Jerome, of New
York. II was understood that the
young Duke knew nothing Of all this;
that a wife had been chosen for him
by his mother and his mother-in-law
to be, until his arrival IN England.
For a time the marriage seemed TO
be a successful one. Two children
giTls-were born to the Duke and
Duchess Of Westminster But the
gay Duke, young and enormously
wealthy got his name all too fire.
quently mixed up with various stage
favorites, notably Gertie Millar. And
his Duchess at last, tired Of occupying
the position Of the faithful and un-
loved wife, herself began taking on
admirers, and her fiirtations soon be-
came almost as much discussed as
those Of her husband.
Hoped to Cause Jealousy.
These were begun. her friends say,
solely in the hope Of making her hus-
band Jealous and with the intention
20 win him back.
Now things Of the deepest import
are limited. The Duchess, it is said,
expects to become a mother again
shortly And the Duke has gone so
far to notify by letter the heir to the
dukedom, Lord Arthur GrOsvenor,
that in case this child is a boy II will
be disowned, and that he UOrd
Grosvenor) need have no fears that
this child Will interfere with the sue
cession to the Westminster titles and
millions.