Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-02-22
MET AFTER THlRTY-TWO YEARS.
How Ed Freese Found His Brother
In This City.
The Latter Failed to Recognize Him at
First--Each for u Long Time Thought

The Latter Failed to Recognize Him at
First--Eaoh for u Long Time Thought
the Other Was Dead-A Happy Reunion
Thirty-two years ago Edward Freese,
shook the dust of Wilmington from his
feet and embarked for the great and
growing west. He left behind him
brother, Thomas H. Freese, who at the
present time is special officer at the
Grand Opera House. The boys grew
up side'by side, "hooked" each others
marbles, went swimming and fishing
together, and what one chose as a
pastime the other enjoyed. In this way
there sprung up between them bond
of affection cemented over by increas.
ing years which nothing could shatter.
Their comrades watched them grow
from boyhood to early manhood and no
one believed that anything would every
separate the pair. Finally the crucial
test came, and each chose for himself
journey on life's broad highway. Tom
remained at home to pursue his chosen
vocation while Ed caught the western
fever and one fine morning babe his
brother good by and drifted out into the
west. The gold fields of Colorado were
opening up and the glitter of the precious
metal attracted the young mans eye for
time. Pitching his tent near Denver
he looked about him for permanent
place to reside.
BELIEVED EACH OTHER DEAD.
A few years in this region were
enough for Ed, for he again hoisted
sail in search of fresh scenery and new
explorations. His exploits in subse-
| quent years carried him through many
States, so that he had no fixed place OF
abode, and not even his brother in Will
mington knew where letter would
reach him. Strange as it may seem, not
a line passed between the brothers after
the separation in Wilmington, and
| neither knew where to find the other
Ed had heard that Tom had gone away
a few years after his departure, but
where to find him he knew not. AS
| years passed by each had begun TO
think the other dead and as there was
no communication between the pair in
all that time the old ties that bound
them together had begun to dissipate
and the memories of boyhood were fast
fading away.
Still there was some recollection of
the scenes of youth in their minds, and
year or so ago each was seized with
desire TO know whether the other yet
lived and resolved TO find out if possible.
Tom corresponded with friends in the
west without avail, and Ed. wrote TO
people in this city but received no tidings
OF his brother. Whatever doubts each
may have had about the other being
alive were dissolved after the corre-
spondence, which lasted several months
and which failed to elicit any intelli-
gence. Tom never expected TO see his
brother alive.
NET IN THEATRE.
Last Tuesday week he was Just in the
act Of opening the big storm doors at the
Grand Opera House to permit the au.
dience TO pass out into the street after
the performance, when a cabman came
running in ami told him that man
desired to see him outside.
"Who is it?" asked the .watchman,
and the cabbie replied that he did net
know. Tom went on about his work,
caring little who wanted TO see him at
that hour.
The cabbie returned in few minutes
and with him was the man who desired
to see the Waterman. He was fine.
looking man, wearing beard reaching
to his chest, and he walked with brisk,
determined step. His appearance WAS
that Of westerner, and there was Just
tinge of gray in his hair. At glance
he would have been taken for man
who had passed the three score and ten
:, mark, yet he was well preserved nza
for all that.
TOOK HIM FOR A BUSco.sTEEREk
"Are you T. II. Fresse," asked the
bearded stranger approaching the watch
man.
That's my name" replied the other.
"Do you know who ans"
! Tom sized the newcomer up fT0u
head to foot, and taking him for =
bunco-steerer with fake gold 5rick in
his pocket, looked him sq1zrsly il the
eye and exclaimed:
mo, l don't know who you are and 1
, don't want TO talk to you now. Pn
busy and got no time to spare with
, strangers"
With that he turned upon his heel and
went in the direction Of tine auditorium.
The stranger, with merry twinkle il
his eye, replied that the other would not
: get rid OF him in that manner, buI Ton
made no audible reply and passed on.
Come cabbie," said the western man,
{ "let's go. That's my brother and be
don't know me from Adam. Well, [
don't much wonder. Its been some 90
i odd years since we've seen each other
i and time has changed both of us in that
/, period. I'll call and see him tomorrow.
: III refresh his memory with old scenes
4 and recall TO his mind old memories.
/, Then he'll know me-"
s with that he entered the cab and was
; driven away to hotel, where he spent
, the night.
i FINALLY RECOGNIZED HIM.
Fifteen minutes after he had left the
= Opera House Tom Freese recognized in
= the stranger his missing brother. There
e was something in the face that told him
who the westerncr was and then he
kicked himself. He rushed out of the
theatre to find the stranger and throw
= his arms about his neck and ask his for.
i giveness. But he had disappeared. Sew
d eral hangers-on, shiverlng on the side
walk, waiting for the show to break
: while hackmen or two wrapped them
y selves in their. great coats and com
planned bitterly of the cold. No one
I, knew anything about the stranger, ant
Tom Freese returned in despair.
There was very little sleep for hin
!, that night, however He went straigh
home and to bed. His SAUNDERS wer,
awakened at intervals by visions of OLE
e memories when he and Ed. had rompet
together, and great beads of perspira
e ton stood out on his forehead when HI
D. awakened only TO find his brother still
- missing. 1t occurred to him to get III
D and go in search of him, and although
he believed this a fruitless task, he re
I pf1txy 10 polt i /. =