A Story in High Life.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2853, 6 April 1878, Page 3

A Story in High Life.

Responsible Ministehs and a Govbbnob's Daughtjbb.

The Sydney correspondent of tho Melbourne Herald has telegraphed to that journal the following sensational story: —" It is stated that a serious social difficulty in high life has just ended in one of Her Majesty's Australian colonies—not New South Wales. The whole affair, it seems, arose out of several Ministers of tho Crown being bachelors. As usual, his Excellency's advisers were frequent visitors at Government House. The Governor had a very handsome and attractive daughter, and two ot the bachelor Ministers were captivated by her charms, and both visited the viceregal residence for the purpose of seeing, the young lady more* frequently than the Governor and his lady cared for. The Governor's daughter, however, appears to have been placed in a dilemma, and not being able to make up her mind, encouraged both suitors. Both gentlemen were hardly pressed, for they could not but bo sensible to the advantage of allaying youth and wealth and good station to political power and popularity. Tho lady eventually made up her mind, and determined which one to accept, and this decision was a great thorn in the side of the rejected colleague of the accepted suitor. He, however, pressed his suit, and it was understood, with such success as to almost induce the lady to change her mind and favor him instead of his colleague, when all at once tho prosecution of a church dignitary for not registering the marriage of the persistent wooer disclosed the fact that he was already married to.a person far below his station, while at the same time he was suing for tho hand of a much higher personage. This disclosure created, as might be supposed, a terrible flutter and scandal, and the gay deceiver was peremptorily forced to withdraw from Government House. The lady then determined to fall back on ■ her first choice, and encouraged his suit, but he immediately declined the intended honor, and a few days since married the daughter of a merchant in the same city. Thus both bachelor Minister?' obtained spouses, while "the lady was left lamenting." The key to the name of one of the gentlemen concerned is given in the above account. Our Sydney telegram (writes- the Herald of the day), about, the doings at a certain. Government House, raised no end of gossip in family circles last evening. "Who is it?" "Where is it P" everybody asked. Inasmuch as wrong guesses were made, pointing very nearly home indeed, we may state that the Queensland Government House is referred to, and one of the lively " bachelors," not quite accurately described as such, is the Hon. Mr Douglas, of Queensland. His wife died about a year ago, and be has recently married his servant, thereby causing the explosion described by our telegraphic correspondent. A later telegram from Sydney in Friday's Herald says:—Another development of scandal in high life, telegraphed a few days since, was made public this morning. It will be remembered that the daughter of the Governor of one of the colonies received attention from two of the Cabinet Ministers, when it was discovered that the favored one was already married to bis servant, and the other declined after.that to consent to his attentions being regarded as serious. This gentleman (The Hon. Geo. Thorne, the late Premier,of Queensland), subseSuently married Miss Uniacke, the aughter of a Melbourne merchant. Ho subsequently resigned the Premiership, and announced his intention of leaving for England in tho Lusitania with his bride. Pursuant to this announcement, Mr and Mrs Thorne went on board the steamer in question on the day appointed for her to sail from Sydney. There was a great crowd of persons on board seeing their friends off. The ex-Premier of Queensland - and his wife were accompanied by a large number of acquaintances of both sexes. Just as Mr Thorne stepped on board, Supreme Court Bailiff Thomas made known his presence, and politely intimated that he was there to execute a warrant at the suit of Kate Keenan, barmaid at Lennon's Hotel, Brisbane, who had instituted an action against the hon. gentleman for breach of promise of marriage. The writ was intended to the departure of Mr Thorne. Bis arrest created a great flutter oh board, especially among the ladies.. Fortunately, Mr Thome's friends were with him, and there was no difficulty in obtaining the necessary bonds that he would meet the suit. They entered into bonds for costs and damages, and Mr Thorne was released, and proceeded on his voyage.