The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-12

And when Arson Davis heard of the arrival
and came rushing over with his eyes bullying
out, Caleb gave him a hearty handshake and
said:
Hope / haven't disappointed you, Arson.
1t was mighty kind of you to 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 toward me, old man
IN disappointed, of course" replied An
son, but suppose I've got to put up with
it. How's the heart trouble?'
'.Awfully bad
Well, maybe you won't last long Tt was
sort of mean trick, but remember that I
stand ready to marry Mary whenever you
drop out. =
It was a year before Caleb had any further
adventure, although his heart trouble grew
worse and the doctors told him he was liable
to drop dead any day He went away one
day on a seven-mie journey to visit sister,
and while crossing a bridge on which crowd
had gathered to watch the flood the bridge
gave way with crash and thirty-six people
were swallowed up in the rushing waters.
That Caleb was among the swallowed there
could not be a doubt, as half a dozen people
who knew him saw him go down.. During the
next three weeks most Of the bodies were dis
covered, and his was among the number. The
widow identified it by dozen different marks
and had been very particular about it, be-
cause Arson Davis had said
MARY, of course l shall marry you when
the year is up, and We can't afford to have
any more mistakes. "
The body was duly buried and the weeds
were put on for the second time. The tomb
stone over the grave said that Caleb was not
dead, but only gone before In that the cpl
taph was partly right and partly wrong. Had
it said that he was not dead, but only gone
down the Ohio river it would have hit the
nail on the head
For time Arson Davis kept doubt in his
mind, and the widow never looked at Caleb's
old boots without wondering if she could pos
sibiy have been mistaken in her identification
But as time went on Caleb's little way of
breaking in upon matrimonial programs was
forgotten. AS the year was drawing to
close, Arson suggested that date be named,
and Mary named it.
1t was to be quiet wedding this time, and
it was to be in the evening, and two days be-
fore the: event was TO come off Arson went up
to the cemetery and made sure that Caleb
was ''at home and likely to remain there.
He reckoned without his host and only with
tombstone however. The widow was
dressed for the marriage and the minister on
his way to the house when Caleb Jones re-
turned for the second time and calmly an
nounced: s-.4..-
We'll, Mary, I've got to disappoint you
mean about it
He had gone into the river, sure enough,
but beam had foated him for twenty miles
before he was picked up by a steamboat The
steamer was going down the river and in
hurry, and CalebzWas finally landed in Gin
cinnati. As he had got that far he thought
hhe might as we'll go farther, and he tramped
over three or four western states before set
ting his face. homeward. The two-times
widow said he ought to make up his mind to
live or die and quit making her nervous over
it, but of course she was glad he had come
back. With Arson Davis il was different
/ however.
| sSNo,. Caleb, 7 cannot take your hand" he
said as he drew back. You are not man
of your word You are not man to be de-
pended on Your dead body has been twice
| found, and there are two graves in which you
are lying and two tombstones telling Of your
virtues, and yet here you are before u.s.
But don't be mad at me, Anson,' pleaded
Caleb.
Il am not mad, but hurt. The injustice of
it rankles. Caleb Jones, hear me when T, say
that will never, never marry your widow.
I'm sorry for her. but owe a duty to myself.
If you die again, she'll have to go it alone
for all of me- -r-s-ss-
Shoot said Caleb, as his face Heightened
and took on a look Of sorrow. 81 didn't sup
pose you felt like this about it, Arson, But,
being you do. and being I can't really
blame you. guess I'll have to stay at home
and try and outlive Mary