Grand Forks herald., 1917-02-05
Love Letters of an Old Woman to Young
Soldier Throw Light on British Army Scandal

New York, Feb. 5.-Cable dls-
patches from England have told III !.
a general way of the activities OF
Mrs. William Cornwallis-W West; now
great power in the councils OF the
British government fell in love with
a soldier young enough to be her
grandson. had him promoted, ana
then because he would not respond
to her love-making, had him DIS
graced. They have told also now
this woman, who has perhaps blasted
the careers of other young men, was
publicly reprimanded, and her power
for harm destroyed. What they have
failed to give are the letters which
were written between the young SOL
dier. whose name is Lieutenant Bar-
rett, and the old lady.
These letters have now reached
New York by mail, and they throw
an interesting light on the sordid
story of this womans activities. Lieu"
tenant Barret was wounded IN action:
While he was convalescing he stayed
West took quarters in the same house
a short time and wrote three letters
to young Barrett in one day, which
have since been published. One OF
these letters said:
boy. dear. 1 am just thinking OF
you and your happiness. see YOU
are channg against the tight hand
feel yourself again and the man In
you Is speaking; yet you feel she has
nursed you. She has just told mo
you told her you did not want to 80
with me to Lady q.
boy, 1 can quite understand It,
dear, If you don't. I was only think
ing for you. But personally would
30 love just to have you quite to my
self at R, and will arrange either
for this Saturday or next; this g.
she proposed to come too, but please.
make it the following Saturday. God
bless you, darling. hate to see your
poor, tired. worried face this morn
Ing, and so want you to have peace.
commenced this before going to
church. d. b. has just said some-
thing to me. Boy. trust you SO: be:
you could not tell me lie: and yet!
Well, dear. must have few words
somehow alone today. Patsy"
Later there was second letter.
which said:
"Boy. she has said some cruel.
hard things to me today. think.
dear, shall 60 tomorrow morning
tell you all. When we can sit at
peace in my flower boudoir will
teach you to love really beautiful
poetry. Write to me often. often;
am so weary of life sometimes. Can't
you post your letters at b: not
in the bag here. It's not safe-just
write as YOU feel, express it-speil it
az you like; 1 shall understand.
PATSY"
While before the day ended Lieu-
tenant Barrett was the recipient Of
the following effusion:
boy, dear. may be wrong, but I
don't think am. Mrs. B. does not,
I feel sure, want you to come to me
next Saturday and will stop~1t some
how by saying you are not strong
enough or writing to Major
or something. But I want you 50. 80
much to come, dear. Don't mind how
I treat you today: you will know the
real me. Patsy, all the time, and un-
derstand."
Barrett's Agitated Reply.
Lieutenant Barrett's reply to this
is q remarkable human document and
clearly shows the agitated state Of
hiE mind 1t the time. Commencing
my dear Mrs. West" it was as fol-
lows:
II expect this letter will surprise
you very much. I have been awake
niost OF the night thinking over ali
YOU hive said and written to me-
You must not mind the mistakes, he
cause I have not got my books with
me. I have always tried to live an
honest and upright life ana have 20
far succeeded, though l have been a