The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-07-17
SHE MARRIED THE BROTHER.
A Remarkable Case just Brought to Light
in Maryland.
From the Chicago Herald.


in Maryland.
From the Chicago Herald.
A remarkable romance in real life has Just
come to light in Westminster county Md,
writes a correspondent. 1t is as follows:
twenty-five years ago Edmund Davis was q
young man i'll his twentieth year. He had a
younger brother, just eighteen. His name
was frank, and he was an exact double of
Edmund. 1t was early in 1864 that Edmund
DAVIS began paying attention to Fan
ME Forbes, the young daughter of neighbor-
ing farmer. The brothers were very much at
tached to each other, and Frank was also a
frequent visitor to the Forbes farm dwelling.
The girl often took the one for the other, and
some time afterward agreed upon q signal
with Edmund so that she could readily know
to whom she was talking. The Eeighbors
could not identify the brothers, and they
were known only and referred to as the Davies
boys.
1t was the girl that suggested to Edmund
that when he came to her he was to use the
Latin word "idem" (the same). Time passed,
and, after courtShip of six or seven months
Edmund proposed marriage. Fannie accepted
and asked him whether or not he did not have
some mark on his arm or hand by which she
could readily distinguish him in case of
sudden death or serious. accident. He
he would disclose mark by which she could
recognize him in any case. Edmund went
home, and, meeting his younger brother, in
trusted his secret to him. Frank, In his inner
most heart, too, loved Fannie Forbes and the
confession of his brother stirred his jealousy
He proposed trip to Baltimore, persuading
Edmund to dispatch messenger to his sweet
heart that they had gone to the Monumental
City, for the special purpose of having o tattoo
mark placed between the first and second fin
ger of the right hand
While in Baltimore they met an old friend
of their father, Captain Aker, of the ocean
steamer Franklin. The captain said he would
sail the next day for Australia, and was
very solicitous that the namesake of his
deceased friend should accompany him.
1t was Edmund. He hesitated. The cap
tain told him of the pleasures of the trip
and the fine country to (which he would
sail, and being urged by Frank, he yielded 70
the influence and consented. That evening
he wrote farewell letter to his intended wife,
bidding her to await his coming, and that he
was hopeful of gaining fortune in the distant
county, Remember Idem" were the last
words The next morning, Friday, August
24, the Franklin started on the trip.
Now, Frank had an open field, and he inn
proved the time wonderfully well. His first
work was to read the letter. The word 'dem'
Seemed to puzzle him, but he remembered
hearing his brother use it when approaching the
girl, and he hit upon the orrectmeanng Of it.
Next he had his right hand tattooed. He would
marry the girl he loved, he thought, and as
sumed the name of Edmund. His return
alone caused some talk, but when the mail
brought the weekly newspaper announcing
the departure of one of the Davies boys, of
Carroll county, for Australia, in the Franklin,
all was we'll.
Even though he gave the correct word
signal Fannie Forbes seemed to doubt his
identity, but after the marriage had been
postponed for month she felt assured he was
Edmund! and they were married The
union was a happy one. Years went
by and they prospered, and by strict economy
saved good amount of money. Ten years
after they had been married the husband
was in Baltimore, and there ascertained that
his brother had died in Australia and had
willed all his earnings to Frank. This knowl-
edge the husband impaired to his wife. The
woman never knew until the day before he
died that her husband was Frank Davies. But
she had loved him just as dearly as if he had
been Edmund, and forgave him freely. He
died apparently happy.