Arizona silver belt., 1906-12-23
A Successful Rival
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l their reservations and slaughtering al palefaces who came in their way. Il was then that Florence Brooks wal visiting an older sister at Fort R., tn, wife of an officer in the United States army. And then 1t was that. the gar rison having marched away, leaving the women and children to the protec ton of half a company under the com mand of lieutenant, another trihs consisting of several hundred warrior. came down to take possession of the fort.
 When d friendly redskn rode into the iuclOsure and announced the com Ing of his fellows, every man being needed for defense. Florence Brooks volunteered to ride to the nearest post
 fifty miles distant, for succor. Lieu tenant Howard Whiting, in command placed her on his own Kentucky bred horse, Comanche. and sent her flying out of the fort, shouting after her ''Their lives depend upon you!" How the horse enabled her to cross the path of the coming Indians an hour before they reached the point of inter section. how ten miles farther on she met squadron of cavalry. how when the Indians reached the fort they found force ample to protect 1t. need only be referred to here. From that day Comanche was beloved by the whole garrison, and especially by Miss Brooks. As for Miss Brooks. she was beloved by the whole garrison. especial. ly Lieutenant Whiting
 And now the view of alkall plains surrounding Fort R. has changed tC vacant lots on the outskirts of city Miss Brooks rides in trolley car in | stead of on horseback. and Lieutenant Whiting spends the greater part of the day in recruiting office In one of the dingiest streets of the city. But early In the afternoon he leaves his sergeant In charge and mounted on Comanche rides past Miss Brooks abode. She is watching for him from an upper win dow. He raises his hat. and from be hind the curtain she throws him a kiss But for one thing the lover would be supremely happy He is Jealous of Comanche.
 Why" he asked on Joining his hancee after one ot his rides. do you always feast your eyes on my horse and pay no attention to me? This aft ernoon when rode by you didn't even see when l raised my hat. You waved your hand long after I had done SO"
 "l love Comanche.' she replied.
 Miss Brooks left the city for month and when she returned her lover h. formed her that he had sold Comanche, The reason he gave for doing so was that he had been ordered to reioin his regiment In the west, and. Comanche having become old. besides gone lame. the lieutenant would not feel warrant cd in transporting him so far. especial. ly as he would need q serviceable ani- mai. Miss Brooks looked astonished when the news was imparted to her and argued long and well against the necessity for the sale. But Whiting had nothing but his pay, which was not sufficient to keep so expensive a pet, and she was obliged to admit, which she did reluctantly. that he could hardly have done otherwise. They parted with an embrace, warm enough on the part of the man. but not the girl.
 However. 1t gradually came over Miss Brooks-plannlng as she was for the coming weddlng-that Comancbe could not have been included in the calculations. Indeed. 1t was very diff. hcult for her to figure out the problem of living on Writings pay, even with. out what Comanche would have cost. She had an income of $500 which she must rellnquish upon her marriage. This left only second lieutenant's pay. with communication for fuel and quarters, on which the couple must live. After all, Whiting was right.
 There is no doubt that all would have gone we'll had 1t not been for certain inopportune meeting One morning while Miss Brooks was out buying her rousseau she saw man driving a cart with an enormous load on 1t. The horse was unable to get 1t up an in- cline, and the driver was belaborinq him unmercifully. Miss Brooks, natu- rally fond of horses, approached to pro- test. The horse turned his head, look ed at her out of pair of melancholy eyes and whinnled. He was COmanche.
 Miss Brooks embraced him and wept.
 The next mail carried to Lieutenant Whiting breaking of the engagement from Miss Brooks. No satisfactory reason was given. The real reason was that she loved Comanche better than Whiting. On her income, which, if not married, she would retain till death, she could live and take care of Co., manche. She bought him for $50 and kept him in royal equine style.
 Comanche lived five years after be. Ing rescued from the melancholy posi-. ton into which his master had sold him. Then Miss Brooks. after a de- cent period of widowhood, began to think of her lover of other days. He, hearing that his rival was dead, sought her. They were married and went to live at the post where he was stationed.
 Whiting said his colonel banter. ingly one day, "I hear your wife kept you waiting five years while she lavish cd her affections on horse. ! didn't know l had an officer under my com mand with so little capacity for pleas ing the fair sex"
 Colonel" replied Whiting. T would much rather have been kept waiting for the woman I love by horse than by some men l have known"
 ELLSWORTH EMERSON.