The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-03-13

Eyes. your father 1 thought I ex
pressed myself very clearly. VIVA
cause is there for surprise in my asking
after the health of your father" asked
Captain Braun.
"You are very kind, 1 am sure. K
make inquiry" replied Schmidt No. /
''but, Captain, my father is dead, un
fortunately"
"Dead!'' almost shrieked old Braun
did you say deadp"
"Yes. dead" replied Schmidt No. 1,
opening his eyes wider than ever.
..My God! II is dreadful. How tru,
il is that in the midst of life we are in
death. Merciful Heavens, how did il
happenP"
ellis horse fell on him and broke hi,
neck
! The old Captain clasped his hands in
silent agony, and muttering: lit il
dreadful, dreadfulr' 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 retreatine
form of his superior officer until he
turned a corner and was out of sight
! and then soliloquized:
This beats anything 1 have expert
cnced 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
row?"
Il did"
did you observe anything peculiar
about him."
''Yes, 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"
Il 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
or. Did you ever hear anything like
That's
"Why shouldn't he ask Won how your
father was coming Oh? L don't see any
thing very strange in his asking you
+: about your father"
Schmidt No. l looked at Lieutenant
: Scholz with astonishme2t.
why shouldn't he ask YOU how
your father is coming on?" repeated
Scholz.
Because" replied Schmidt No. l.,
cit is a little unusual in sensible per-
son to ask after the health of man
who is dead"
''Deadr' exclaimed Scholz. ''Come,
now, don't joke on that subject. My
dear Schmidt there should be no levity
about thing of that kind"
'tIt don't occur to me to joke, but
I 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?'
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."
My poor, poor friend, said Scholz.
taking both of Schmidt's hands and
shaking them, 'may Heaven give you
strength to bear up under this terrible
atfiiction,' and he wiped manly tear
away, and off he went with his head
hanging down.
Another lunatic," remarked
Schmidt No. l to himself, cor is he
drunk, too? 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 on the parade ground came up
and in round about way asked Schmidt
No. where his father was, that officer
became justly exasperated.
1T is 4 plot-a damnable plot, and I
will not stand any such trifiing. am
too old an officer to be humbugged in
that way, aud particularly about the
death of my father | viii go ut once
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.
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 humur
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 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
morning.
Lieutenant Scholz was almost para
lyzed with establishment at this extra
ordinary conduct of his friend.
Look here, Schmidt, do you know
that can understand YOU. anyhow"
What don't You understand? Are