St. Landry democrat., 1885-03-28

somebody is going to get hurt if this
foolishness is kept up.
Leaving the old officer Schmidt No.
1 to take care of himself for the present,
let us see what his son Lieutenant
Schmidt No. 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 boy? Have you got the
toothache or collie, 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
morningF''
Lieutenant Scholz was almost para
lyzed with establishment at this. extra
ordinary conduct of his friend.
Look here, Schmidt, do you know
that can't understand you, anyhow"
What don't you understand? Are
you surprised that I wonder at your
owl-like appearances a general thing
you are not SO solemn. Let's go and
take DTeaklaS6 LOS0JnGr.
Lieutenant Scholz shook his head as
if the behavior of his friend was totally
ncomprehensible 81 did not suppose
you could be guilty of such utter heart
lessness."
"Heartlessness? What do you mean
by that?'
swell, should think when mans
father is dead
Schmidt No. became as solemn as a
Judge, and in a husky voice, taking
SchOlz by the hands, he said:
''Oh, I beg your pardon, did not
know your father was dead. But I
might have guessed it from your sor-
roWful face. Dear friend, forgive me,
and allow me to express my heartfelt
grief at your affection. /"
This was a little too much for Scholz.
'.Now, Schmidt" he said, angrily,
''you quit your nonsense. You should
be ashamed of yourself to show such
levity. Before your poor father is under
the sod you are joking about his death.
"Your grief, Scholz,' replied
Schmidt, has caused you to confound
your father with mine. y
''How is that?''
''My dear friend" replied Schmidt
No. 2, ''your father is dead, not mine. y
'Now, this is too much,' exclaimed
Scholz, it 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. l got letter from him
yesterday, and if he was dead my sister
would certainly telegraph me.
well, them" said Schmidt, g if
your father is not dead what are you so
sorrowful about?''
"About the death of your father, OF
course"
"My father!'' exclaimed Schmidt.
s.Of course. Didn't his horse fall
on him and break his neck?n
Schmidt became as pale as q ghost.
:" did not know anything about it,
said Schmidt, who told you thatp'
You told me so when I saw you on
the parade ground half an hour ago"
Schmidt No. 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
s.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"
Il was now schmidt's turn to got
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-
ducea by the news of the death of his
friend. His orderly entered and said
that Lieutenant Schmidt was outside.
Tell him to come In" said Captain
Braun. The next moment Schmidt No.
2 entered the room. The old soldier
heayed sigh and advanced to meet
him.
..My poor young friend" he said,
..this is a 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 was
red, and he seemed to be laboring I'M
der great excitement.
Captain, outside there-is-there is