The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-03-14

and see Captain Braun about it, for
somebody is going to get hurt if this
foolishness is kept up.
Leaving the old officer Schmidt No.
l to take care of himself for the present,
let us see what his son Lieutenant
Schmidt No 2 is about He stepped
out of his room dressed in full uniform
and in the best of humor
A complacent smile was playing upon
his lips As he sauntered down the
street he met Lieutenant Scholz, who
looked like the picture of despair.
Good morning. Scholz, how are you
coming on, my boyP Have you got the
toothache or colo, or has your sweet
heart gone back on you, or what is the
matter with you, anyhow? What
makes you look so sorrowful this fine
morningp'
Lieutenant Scholz was almost para
lyzed with establishment at this extra
ordinary conduct of his friend.
"Look here, Schmidt do you know
that cant understand you, anyhow"
"What don't you understand? Are
you surprised that | wonder at your
owl-like Appearances a general thing
you are not so solemn. Let's 90 and
take breakfast together. P"
Lieutenant Scholz shook his head as
if the behavior of his friend was totally
incomprehensible. II did not suppose
you could be guilty of such utter heart
lesSness."
"HeartlessnessP What do you mean
by thatP"
"Well, l should think when a mans
father is dead"
Schmidt No. 2 became as solemn as a
Judge, and in a husky voice, taking
Scholz by the hands, he said:
"Oh, beg your pardon, l did not
know your father was dead. But
might have guessed it from your sor-
rowful face. Dear friend, forgive me,
and allow me to express my heartfelt
grief at your aflliction.
This was little too much for Scholz.
Now, Schmidt" he said, angrily,
''you quit your nonsense. You should
be ashamed of yourself to show such
ievity. Before your poor father is under
the sod you are joking about his death
Your grief, School," replied
Schmidt, "has caused you to confound
your father with mine.n
GLOW is thatP"
"My dear friend" replied Schmidt
No. 2, ''your father is dead, not mine :"
"Now, this is too much" exclaimed
! Scholz, sit is not enough that YOU dis
grace your fathers memory, but you
even undertake to joke about mine
My father, God be praised, is quite
healthy. ! got letter from him
yesterday, and if he was dead my sister
would certainly telegraph me-.
'Well, then," said Schmidt, eff
your father is not dead what are you so
sorrowful about?"
about the death of your father, of
course"
my father!" exclaimed Schmidt,
"Of course. Didn't his horse fall
on him and break his neckp"
Schmidt became as pale as q ghost.
:" did not know anything about it,
said Schmidt, "who told you that?"
"You told me so when | saw you on
the parade ground half an hour ago"
Schmidt No, 2 looked at Scholz with
a very anxious expression of coun-
tenance.
"Do you know, Scholz, that / believe
you are not quite right in your upper
story at times.
son the contrary, it is you who
have lost your senses. You told Cap
tain Braun the same thing about your
father being dead, less than half an
hour ago.
Captain Braun! Why, l have not
seen him to-day"
"But have seen him. | met him
when he came from the parade ground,
and his whole beard was full of tears.
He said he saw you on the parade
ground and that you told him about the
accident that had happened to your
father"
1t was now Schmidt's turn to get
mad.
II shall see Captain Braun about that
immediately" said Schmidt No. 2, and
putting his saber under his arm he
strobe off in the direction of Captain
Braun's quarters, Old Captain Braun
was sitting in his room. He had not
recovered from the terrible shock pro
duced by the news of the death of hi,
friend. His orderly entered and said
that Lieutenant Schmidt was outside.
Tell him to come in," said Captain
Braun. The next moment Schmidt No,
entered the room. The old soldier
heaved sigh and advanced to meet
him.
MY poor young FRIEND" he said
this is sad blow to us both 1t has
completely paralyzed me-"
1t seemed to have done the same
thing for Schmidt No. 2, but before he
could open his mouth the orderly once
more entered the room. His face wa:
red, and he seemed to be laboring un
der great excitement.
captain, outside there-is-there i:
-" then he looked at Schmidt No. 4:
and his face became redder and redder