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

ground, waiting 1Or the arrival or his
friend Schmidt No. |. Captain Braun
was greatly gratified when he saw his
friend coming, for they were great
chums and loved to chat together. AS
Schmidt No. l drew near Braun, the
latter perceived by the black hair and
mustache that he was mistaken, that it
was Schmidt No. 2; so he thought.
Good morning, Lieutenant Schmidt.
Where is your father this morning?"
Now the father of Lieutenant Schmidt
No. had been dead many years, hence
the old Lieutenant stared stupidity at
his superior officer instead of answering.
He was under the impression that he
had not heard Alright
"Your father is well l hope" con-
tinued Captain Braun.
MY father?" inquired Schmidt, look
ing still more perplexed, and satisfied
in his own mind that his hearing had
become defective.
Eyes, your father l thought I ex-
pressed myself very clearly. What
cause is there for surprise in my asking
after the health of your father" asked
"You are very kind am sure, to
make inquiry" replied Schmidt No. l,
''but, Captain, my father is dead, I'M
fortunately
"Deadr' almost shrieked old Braun,
"did you say deadP'
Eyes, dead" replied Schmidt No. /,
opening his eyes wider than ever.
my God! 1t is dreadful. How true
it is that in the midst of life we are in
death. Merciful Heavens, how did it
happen?"
''His horse fell on him and broke his
neck"
The old Captain clasped his hands in
silent agony, and muttering: lit is
dreadful, dreadful" walked slowly
away.
Schmidt No. did not know what to
think. Why his father, who had been
dead twenty-five years, should become
the object of interest to Captain Braun
at that late day was more than he could
apprehend. He gazed at the retreating
form of his superior officer until he
turned a corner and was out of sight,
and then soliloquized:
This beats anything l have expert
enced yet Poor old Braun must have
softening of the brain, or else he has
taken to drinking"
Just then Lieutenant Scholz, another
officer belonging to the same battery,
came around the corner.
"Good morning, Schmidt
| "GOOd morning, SchOlZ By the
way, Scholz," said Schmidt No. l,
Ibid you meet Captain Braun just
nowP"
Il did"
did you observe anything peculiar
about himP"
Eyes, he looked as if he had been
crying"
Il thought so. Either the old man
has lost his faculties or else he has
taken to strong drink"
- can't believe that. He is not that
sort of a man."
'There is certainly something wrong
about him. There is screw loose
about him somewhere.
"What makes you think so,
Schmidt"
"Well, just think; he asked me
awhile ago how my father was coming
on. Did you ever hear anything like
that?"
"Why shouldn't he ask you how your
father was coming on? | don't see any
thing very strange in his asking you
about your father"
Schmidt No. l looked at Lieutenant
Scholz with establishment,
"Why shouldn't he ask you how
your father is coming on?" repeated
Scholz.
because, replied Schmidt No. l,
cit is little unusual in q sensible per-
son to ask after the health of man
who is dead"
"Deadr' exclaimed Scholz. "Come,
now, don't joke on that subject. Ny
dear Schmidt there should be no levity
about thing of that kind"
cit don't occur to me to joke, but
l can certainly say that my father is
dead. That is mere statement of a
fact"
Lieutenant Scholz's arms dropped by
his side, and he became as pale as did the
sympathetic Braun.
Then it is true-really true; but tell
me for Gods sake how did it happen?n
His horse fell on him and broke his
neck. l thought you knew it."
Lieutenant Scholz looked the picture
of despair, and Schmidt gazed at him in
utter amazement.n
My poor, poor friend, said Scholz,
taking both of Schmidts hands and
shaking them, "may Heaven give YOU
strength to bear up under this terrible
afiiiction, and he wiped a manly tear
away, and off he went with his head
hanging down.
. Another lunatic," remarked
Schmidt No. 1 to himself, cor is he
drunk, tooP Perhaps it is who am
loony."
Only few minutes later the Sergeant
who was drilling the recruits, not OBJ
serving the old white-haired Lieutenant
Schmidt ~ fh.a l.,