The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1915-12-30
TWICE
WON
n. DI I'LL CD ALAM
BY RUTH GRAHAM

gems, but Sam Flint, first classman,
was crown jewel. A violent Irritation
ensued and Lucia went home engaged.
She said nothing to her parents about
the affair, combining her confidence to
two or three bosom friends. Since Mr..
Flint had a year more before him at
the academy and Miss Graham two
years more at school, with the prospect
Of four at college, 1t did not seem that
there was any hurry about taking steps
for the bridal.
Ten years passed. Miss Graham had
turned down a number of suitors-not
because she was true to Mr., Flint, for
they had simply dropped apart without
ever seeing or hearing from each other
after their parting at Annapolis. The
lady, now twenty-seven years old. was
verging on old maidhood and begin
ming to fear that a husband. home and
children were not to be hers.
One day she received a letter bearing
familiar masculine hand. Opening 1t.
she began to read, and noticing that
she had received love letter naturally
cast her eyes down for the signature.
"Flint?' she muttered. who's Flint"
Then, reading further, she was enlight-
ened. Mr.. Flint wrote reminding her
that she had been his fiancee since their
engagement made ten years agone,
which had never been broken. He was
now commander in the navy and
considered his salary sufficient, etc.
! Then she remembered her juvenile fir
| tation at Annapolis.
Miss Graham jumped at this chance
to escape being an old maid and re-
piled favorably. Then came a letter
| from Commander Flint stating that he
could not get leave to go to her and
would she come to him? After much
correspondence 1t was arranged that
Miss Graham should sail for London
and thence for Port Said, at which
point Flint's ship would be at GER
tain date. After marriage the bride
could join her husband at the different
ports on the Mediterranean at which
his ship was expected to touch.
On Miss Graham's voyage from Lon
don a gentleman wearing the undress
uniform of an officer In the British
army solicited an Introduction to Miss
Graham and at once showed signs of
being desperately smitten with her.
The lady appeared to reciprocate, but
lost no time in informing him that she
was on her way to Port Said to be
married to an officer In the United
States navy. The Englishman, Colonel
Montgomery, took the announcement
very hard, declaring that for him the
world had collapsed Miss Graham took
pity on him and thrust new thorn
In his side by telling him that had she
not pledged her word to another she
would favorably consider his proposal.
Several British officers came aboard
at Gibraltar, none of whom knew Mont
gomery. This seemed to render Miss
Graham doubtful of him.
However, he soon succeeded in re-
gaining her confidence, and she show
ed signs of willingness to break with
her fiance and marry the Englishman.
When the ship approached Port Said
Colonel Montgomery pleaded passion
ately, and at last Miss Graham said
that she had not seen her lover for ten
years. She would meet him once, con
fess that she had been won by anoth
er and, If he held her to the engage
ment, would tell him that he must mar
ry her without her heart. OF course
he would relinquish her
This satisfied the colonel, and 1t was
agreed between them that they should
meet and be married at Cairo-that is
provided the lady could be freed from
her previous engagement withou
blame. Commander Flint had agreed
, to meet his f1ancee at Cairo. and this
rendered the swapping of lovers con
venient-that is, provided they coult
be kept apart. AS soon as the mar
riage ceremony between the colone
, and Miss Graham had been performed
; they We're to proceed together to joiI
his command in India.
Their temporary parting was quit,
distressing. Montgomery, who appear
ed elated with his success, did no
seem to mind it, but the lady gave evi
> dence of dreading the ordeal of break
ing with her American fiance. Sh'
, chung to her new lover, saying:
|
, able conductY
a Come to me, sweetheart. | will con
;. vince you that there Is nothing dishon
D orable in a maid following the dictate
o of her heart"
;. Thus assured, Miss Graham tore heI
/. self away.
On reaching her hotel she left not
;. In the Office for Commander Film
briefly confessing that she had bee
s won on the voyage from London an
t that they had better not meet Sh
also left note for the colonel that sh
r had repented her dishonorable bargai
8 and would never see him again.
The same afternoon Commando
b Flint sent up his card, begging an II
8 terview. Consent was given. and b
b appeared. The lady advanced to met
him with a smile and outstretche