The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1885-08-13
,rg. How is your fathcrP"

Cd question, and stared ut his superior
officer instead of answering.
"Your father is well, l hope" con-
tinued Capt. Klohn, now also some-
what surprised.
"My fatherP" said tho lieutenant,
still rs puzzled as before.
"Certainly. your father. l thought
1 spoke plainly enough. What is thore
50 wonderful about my inquiring for
tho health of your fatherp'
The captain is very kind" said
Rosenberg the first; "but / am very
much surprised indeed"
II do not understand you. Why
SOP"
Great heavens! because my father
is dead, captain"
''The old man turned palo. "DeadP
Your father deadp" said he, with trem-
bling voice. "My God! How did it
happenP"
Lilo fell from his horse and broke
his neck"
The captain clasped his hands and
shook his head in horror. "Oh, oh,
obi" said he, over and over "Oh,
you poor fellow, you poor fellow!"
Liout. Rosenberg the first looked Mt
| him, wholly at 4 loss to know what to
make of it.
In the meantime the recruits had
gathered aud stood in line. A lower
otficer stood before them, waiting for
| the stroke of the bell. "Attentionr'
he called, as the first clang trcmbled
in the church tower. TO soldier
duty comes before all else, eating or
drinking, house or home, wife or child,
father or mother.
will you have the goodness to stay
with the recruits, dear RoscnbergP"
said the old captain. "Thcy cannot be
left without head" He pressed the
lieutenart's hands in deep agitation,
and then added: "Adieu! adieu! dear
Rosenberg" while bright tears fell
from the old soldiers eyes down on his
| buShy beard. "Auf wicderschen! God
comfort you! dear Rosenberg. God
| comfort you" He turned and went
with falterng steps to his home, the
shock having weakened him so that he
| needed to rest and collect himself be-
fore calling the sergeant to advise
with him in regard to further proceed
ings.
Lieut.. Rosenberg watched the cap
tain disappear round the corner; then
| he laughed, and exclaimed: "Well, /
never saw anything like it. There is
nothing like it in all tho worldn'
just then another officer came from
tho same direction which the captain
had gone. 'Lindcnannn' called
Rosenberg, as he was passing. Good
morning! Good morning! How goes
it with your Come hero moment"
Lindemaun did so. "How can
servo you, Rosenberg" he asked.
Did you just meet our captain?"
II did"
"Did anything about him surprise
youP"
Very much; he was in tears"
"Ah! Now, you scc--I thought he
must have been too free with his
schn,apps or eaten too much break
What do you mean? He is not in
the habit of doing So"
"Well, there is certainly something
wrong with him."
What brought you to such conclu-
sion?"
"Why, just think! When l came up
to him he asked Inc how my father
was!"
"Well, why should he not ask you?"
Rosenberg the first looked at him in
amaZcmcnt.
"Why should he not ask mc?" he
repeated.
"Ccrtainly; why not?"
because he never did so before"
"What of that? Everything must
have beginning. What is thero spec
tally to wonder at in thatp"
"What is there to wander atP ! do
not sec how you, Lindemann. a sensi-
bic man, could Inquire aftor man who
is dead"
Dead! DO you jestP No one
should speak lightly of such things,
my dear Rosenberg"
II have no pleasure in joking about
such things; but certainly can say
that my father is dead"
Liout. Lindemann's face grew very
long, and he turned as pale as Capt.
Klohn had before him. Can it be
trucP Can it be possiblo?' he said.
''But tell mo, for Gods sake how it
'Ho fell from his horse and broke
his neck"
Lieut.. Lindomann's arms fell by his
side' and his breathing was heavy and
painful. Rosenberg the first looked
with wonder at Lindemann. who
graspcd his hand and said My Door,
P'Ni thiNAN' A1o "lpCu uituly UCaT
from his eyes, and turned away in the
direction he had come. "God comfort
you" he cried "IIeaven send YOU
! strength TO bear itr'
"He must be crazy" thought Rosen-
berg the first, staring after him in ut
ter bcwildcrment, ''or has he had too
hearty a breakfast. Only one of tho
two can be possiblo-only one of those
two"
But when fifteen minutes lator tho
sergeant camo to look around and SEQ
if all was in order, and took the liberty
of inquiring for his fathers health,
Rosenberg became angry. 'Is it
plot!' he exclaimed. "They are try
ing to play q trick on me. But l am
too old to allow such thing, especial
/ ly 1T the expense of my fathor; that
will not pass certainly will not al
low it. AS soon rs the training of the
recruits is over | will go to the cap
tain and report, and if he is at the
head of the conspiracy it is all the Same
to me. will not be responsible for
the result"
Let us leave the old officer standing