Daily Arizona silver belt., 1907-11-23
A Successful Rival
Ioriginall

of true love to be turned awry by horse. The story begins back in the days when the Indians in the west were constantly breaking away from palefaces who came in their way. It was then that Florence Brooks was visiting an older sister at Fort R., the wife of an officer in the United States army. And then 1t was that, the gar eison having msrched away, leaving the women and children to the protee- ton of half coIlpany under the com mand of lieutenant, another tribe consisting of several hundred warriors came down to take possession of the fort
 When friendly redskin rode into the inclosure 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 Coinanche. 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 it, 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 allIali plains surrounding Fort R. has changed tG vacant lots on the outskirts of a city. Miss Brooks rides in trolley ear 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 Q kiss. But for one thing the lover would be supremely happy. He is jealous of Comanche.
 Why" he asked on joining his dancee after one of his rides, do you always feast your eyes on my horse and pay no attention to me? This aft. ernoon when I rode by you didn't even see when l raised my hat. You waved your hand long after had done so.''
 'I love Comanche," she replied
 Miss Brooks left the city for a month, and when she returned her lover in- formed her that he had sold Comanche. The reasen he gave for doing so was that he had been ordered to rejoln 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 serviceable ani- maj. Miss Brooks looked astonlshed 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 10 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-planning as she was for the coming wedding-that Comanche could not have been included In the calculations. Indeed, it was very diff ficult 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 relinquish 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 a 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 belaborlng him unmercifully. Miss Brooks, natu. rally fond of horses, approached to pro- test. The horse turned his head, look. ed at her out of a 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 she would retain till death, she could live and take care of Co., 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. 1
 Whiting" said his colonel banter lngly one day, "I hear your wife kept you waiting five years while she lavish ed her affections on horse. I didn't know I had an officer under my com. mand with so little capacity for pleas Ing the fair sex.''
 Colonel" replied Whiting, T would