Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1884-07-02
An Enoch Arden Romance.

The town of Muncie, Ind, is agita-
ted by the return of Thompson Walling
from Weatherby, Oregon, to wife
whom he left thirty-five years ago, and
whom he finds widow after having
been twice married during his absence.
Fifty years ago George Shafer, who
camo from Pennsylvania, was a well
to-do farmer in Muncie. Joseph Wal
ling, a prosperour tanner, lived just
outside of the then village of MuGcey
town, cluster of log cabins and little
houses, with log Court House. Su-
sannah Shafer, a daughter of the
farmer, was just growing into woman
hood, and young Thompson Walling,
the tanners son, became enamored OF
her, and, before the parents knew the
truth, they were pledged to each other.
On April |, lS4l, they were married,
and among the guests were youth
and maiden, friends of the bride and
groom, now Mr.. Volney Wilson and
wife. The union was happy. Three
children were born to Walling and his
wife, one of whom died, leaving boy
and girl.
When the gold fever of lS49 broke
out young Walling became victim,
and, with $500 loaned to him by his
friend Volney Wilson, he left for Califor-
MIA with Arch Hamilton, Theo. Burt,
Stephen Hamilton and son, Henry
Wysor, Jas Russy, DR.. Hathaway,
Charles Mclaughlin (the Railroad
King, lately shot by his employee in
San Francsco) Samuel Martin, and
others, now prominent citizens of Mum
Gle. The mines of California and
Idaho were successfully tried, and
one by one the party returned, save
Walling, Mclaughlin aud Russy, the
latter of whom, with man named
Wood, from that county, met his death
at the hands Of the Indians. Time
passed, and letters from Walling came
less and less frequent Ia 1852 let
ter containing draft for $500 was re-
ceived by Mrs Walling. She never
heard from him after that, and his 81
lence was accepted as proof that he
was dead. In fact, his fathers estate
at his death was administered as
though young Walling was dead. His
wife obtained divorce, and in 1862
married Horatio f. Wilcoxon, who
was killed in sawmill in 1865. A
year later she married Jeremiah Veach,
who died two years ago. Then she
lived with her son near Muncle.
Volney Wilson alone never shared
the belief that Thompson Walling was
dead. For years he spent all his leis-
ure time writing letters of inquiry to
out-of the way places on the Paclhc
coast. One day in February last the
Deputy Postmaster at Weatherby,
Ore, saw letter postmarked Muncie,
Ind, addressed to the Postmaster.
Opening it he found that it was from
his old friend Wilson, inquiring for
him. lie, answering, gave the story
of his life and misfortunes. Then he
wrote to his wife, detailing his sorrows,
his efforts to get home. his failures. his
i'll health, and his final conclusion that
fate was against him, followed by re-
lapse into indifference. A few morn
ings since the town was electrified to
see him on the street. Before noon,
his son, now almost middle-aged
man, came for him and took him to the
home of his former wife, where to
many friends he detailed his romantic
experience, which is almost beyond be-
lief
Mrs. Veach, his wife, expressed her
self as glad of his return, and the meet
ing is said to have been most affecting.
IL is thought second wedding will
fully unite them. Should il occur,
Velney Wilson and his wife will again
hold the place of honor they held