New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-06-06
HAREMARKARLERoM
The Marriage of Young Woman
to the Double of Her Be-
trothed.

trothea.
Westminster (Md) Chicago Herald.
The deathbed confession Of Edmund
Davies, who died recently in Carroll
County, has Just been made public
and is a sequel TO q strange story
His life was q remarkable one in
many instances. Twenty years
ago Edmund Davies was a young man
in his twentieth year. He was not
handsome and, neither was he ILL
looking. He had a younger brother
Just eighteen. His name was Frank,
and he was an exact double OF Ed
mund. The two brothers lived alone,
except an old negress, their housekeep-
er. The parents OF the boys had died
many years before. It was early In
1864 that Edmund Davies began pay
ing attention to Fannie Forbes, the
young daughter OF a neigh boring farm
er. The brothers were very much at
tached to each other, and Frank also
was frequent visitor to the Forbes
farm dwelling. The girl often took the
one for the other. and some time after
wards agreed upon a signal with Ed
mund, so that she could readily know
to whom she was talking, The
neighbors could not identity the
brothers, and they were known
only and referred to as the
Davies boys. 1t was the girl that sug-
gested to Edmund that when he came
to her he was to use the Latin word
.idem" (the sane). Time passed,
and after a courtship ofsix or seven
months Edmund proposed marriage.
Fannie accepted because she had
learned to love him fervently. Then
it was that she asked him whether 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 told
the girl that on his next visit he
would disclose mark by which she
would recognize him in any case. Ed
mund went home, his mind fraught
with pleasure because he was to mar
ry the girl OF his heart. He loved his
younger brother very much, and en-
trusted his secret to him.
Frank in his innernost heart, too,
loved Fannie Forbes, and the con-
fession OF his brother stirred his jeal-
ousy. He was bright OF thought and
possessed an active mind. He want
ed to marry Miss Forbes. The day
following the brothers came to this
place and Edmund procured a mar
riage license Frank smind was evoIv-
ing a scheme by which he could thwart
his brothers marriage He proposed
q trip to Baltimore, persuading Ed
mund to despatch a messenger to
his sweetheart that they had gone to
the Monumental City for the especial
purpose of having a tattoo mark
placed between the first and second
finger OF his right hand While in
Baltimore they met an old friend OF
their dead father, Captain Aker, Of
the ocean steamer Franklin. The
captain said he would sail the next
day for Australia, and was very soil
citous that the namesake OF his de-
ceased friend should accompany him z
1t was Edmund. He hesitated. Tn
captain told him Of the pleasures
the trip and the fine country to whic 4
he would sail and being urged b.
Frank he yielded to tire influences and,
consented That evening he wrote
a farewell letter to his intended wifi
bidding her to await his coming, ant
that he was hopeful OF gaining fortune
IN the distant country. The marriaat
license was enclosed in the letter
Remember ldein' were the las,
/ words. The next morning, Friday
August 81, the Franklin started o
the trip Now Frank had an ope
field, ard he improved the time woy
derfully we'll He did not hesitatl
HIS first work was to read the letter
The word "Idem" seemed to puZZl.
| him. but he remembered hearing -
brother use it when approaching tLss
girl, and he hit upon the correc
meaning at once. Next he had biz
right hand tattooed. He would mar
ry the girl he loved, he thought, ar
assumed the name OF Edmund.
His return home alone caus,
some talk. but when the mail brough
| the weekly newspapers announcini
the departure OF one OF the Davies
boys OF Carroll County for Australia
| in the Franklin all was we'll. Thence
| forth Frank was known as Edmund.
Even though he. gave the correct word
signal, Fannie Forbes seemed to
doubt his identity, but after the.
marriage had been postponed for !
month, which was very acceptabeM
| Frank, she felt assured he was Nd
mund, and they were married. TIL
union was a happy one, indeed, Blu
no children were born to bless tnei
happiness. Years went by and the
prospered, and by strict econom
saved a good amount of money. TIE j
years after they had been married tt &
husband was IN Baltimore, and the
ascertained that his brother had die
in Australia and had willed all h
earnings to Frank. This knowledt
the husband impaired to his vii
The woman never knew until the d
/ before he died that her husband "
| Frank Davies. But she had love
him just as dearly as if he had be.
| Ed mund and forgave him freely. II
died apparently happy.
Nr Ar0o N:--@F@.,s ~sstI