The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1900-06-29
The Man Who Came Back
BY Wilson Parkes.

II WAS a struggle between Arson
Davis and Caleb Jones as to who
Should win the love and the hand of
Mary Doyle. There was rivalry, but
no ill-feeling. When Caleb won the
prize Arson slapped him on the back
and said:
''All right. Caleb, you are the lucky
man. | don't believe | was ready to
marry just yet, anyhow. Ill wait two
or three years and then marry your
widow"
That's mighty kind of you" an
swered Caleb. Il have heart trouble,
and may not live a year, and the
thought that you'll take my place will
make me die content"
Six months after the marriage Caleb
Jones went down TO Philadelphia on
business. He had never been drunk in
his life, but he got drunk to celebrate
this occasion. While in a befuddled
state he was carried aboard of a ship
bound for the east, and when his sober
senses returned he was on blue water.
Meanwhile, as he did not return to
his village home in due time, an alarm
was raised, and for the space of three
weeks Caleb figured in the public
press and police reports as mysterious
ly missing"
Then a body was found in the river,
identified as his, and shipped home for
burial. Soon after the funeral Arson
Davis called on the widow and said:
MARY, / don't know whether Caleb
ever told you about it or not but there
was an understanding between us that
in case he died | was TO step into his
shoes"
81 believe he did mention something
of the kind" replied the relict.
THAT was kind of him. and saves
any further explanation. | guess you
thought almost as much of me as you
did of him, but he happened to save your
life from a COW one day while l was
out of town. Poor Caleb! We shall
miss him and mourn for him, but at the
end Of a year we'll be married"
The days and weeks and months
went by, and the widow put off her
weeds and Arson bought his wedding
suit. The marriage day was set, the
friends invited and the minister en-
gagged, and another "a hours would
have made the widow Jones Mrs. Davis,
when in walked Caleb. He had recov-
cred from his drunk and returned from
China.
II wouldn't have blamed you a bit
he said to the astonished wife. when
he learned what was about to happen.
"Of course, you thought l was dead.
and it was all right for you to marry
Arson. I might have written, but
somehow | never got around to it.
Sorry to have made any trouble, but
l got drunk just to see how it seemed.
and was carried off"
And when Arson Davis heard of his
arrival and came rushing over with his
eyes bullying out. Caleb gave him a
hearty hand and said:
Hope l haven't disappointed you,
Arson. 1t was mighty kind of you &c
offer to marry Mary, and I'm glad she
accepted you, but my coming home
knocks it all out, of course. Don't feel
hard towards me, old man"
I'm disappointed. of course" replied
Arson, "but l suppose I've got to put
up with it. How's the heart troube?"
lawfully bad"
'well, mebbe you won't last long.
1t was a sort of mean trick, but re-
that I stand ready to marry
Mary whenever you drop out"
The routine of home life was taken
up again by Caleb, and six months
passed away. Then he took journey
by railroad, and two trains collided. !
and he was found among the dead.
That is, his satchel was found, and a
body was discovered at the
same time, and the excited rescuers
the two together.
The body had been buried before the
folks at home heard the news. The wife
received the satchel, however, together !
with . liberal check from the com !