Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-04-01
from her lips would kill me; I could

and Roger leaned his head on his hand
and Swallowed his face from the light,
!" I'll call on Alice tomorrow"
The next day was the longest of John
Gourlay's life bright, warm, happy
day, that made people even in the city
look glad and cheerful. He was about
his business as usual, ate his luncheon
and walked home leisurely. Roger was
standing at the window watching for
him, and he kept his back to him when
he entered the room.
"Well," John said gently; "well,
Roger, have you seen herP"
"Yes, I've seen herr; and Roger
faced round suddenly. "John, old fell
low, its no use. -
'sBrother! =" and he lifted his hand as
if to ward off blow.
"It's no use," Roger went on in
hard voice. "She does not love you;
she loves some one else. Be a man,
John, and bear it, for there's no hope. -
One low, stifled groan, and then John
Gourlay wrung his brothers hand and
walked steadily out of the room. What
he suffered in the hours that followed
no one ever knew, and when he ap-
peared at the dinner table he was calm
and self-possessed, but something had
either come into his face or gone out of
it that altered him. But of the two
Roger looked the most unhappy. The
blow had really fallen most heavily on
him.
slack, old fellow, we're Gourlay
Brothers now to the end of the chapter,'
he said, huskily. "I know J ou'n never
marry, and neither viii l." and some
how John felt that Roger meant wha
he said.
twenty-five years passed by, quar-
ter of a century of changes and chances
and still the Gourlay Brothers held the
even tenor of their way. They we're
rich beyond their wishes or desires, and
not altogether unhappy in their solitary
friendship. Alice Russell seemed to have
drifted completely out of their lives;
her name was never mentioned, and
whether she was married or dead they
did not know.
One morning about the middle of
September they were walking along the
Kings road at Brighton, whether they
had gone for their annual holiday.
Roger entered shop to purchase some
thing, and John stood outside looking
dreamily at the passers-by. Suddenly
he advanced step as a lady in an in
valid chair was wheeled by. CHANGING
to look up, she met his glance with a
smile of recognition. "Mr. Gourlay, it
surely is, it must be you. am so glad
to see you'll
"And I to meet you" John said,
with courteous bow. 81 have not the
pleasure of knowing-'' y
"My name-I am Alice Russell still"
she said frankly. At that moment Roger
appeared. For an instant the blood for
sock his ruddy face, while hot crimson
flush rose to Alice's pale cheek as she
tried to stammer out some words OF
greeting. Roger was no less confused,
and the expression of both faces was
revelation to John Gourlay. He felt as
if the world had suddenly drifted away
from him and he was left solitary in
some unknown infinite space. But there
was nothing of that in his voice as he
asked Alice for her address and per-
mission to call upon her in the after
noon. Then taking his brother by the
arm he led him away, and they contin-
ued their walk without exchanging a
single word about the strange encoun-
ter.
In the afternoon John called at Miss
Russell's hotel, and in few moments
he found himself seated beside her in a
pleasant sitting room overlooking the
sea.
"Alice,'' he said, plunging into the
subject at once, "do you remember
conversation you had with my brother
long time ago."
eyes, I remember, Mr.. Gourlay,"
she replied sadly.
- lie mace request Tor me then
which it was not in your power to grant;
I am come to make similar one for
him now. Roger loves you, Alice. He
has loved you all these long, weary
years, though you will, at least, believe
I did not know it them
"Poor Roger! y Alice said, softly.
"You care about hint You will
make him happy even at this late hourP
Tell me, Alice, that you love my
brotheri
eyes, Mr.. Gourlay, do. Why
should deny it! have loved him al
ways, though I did not know that he
cared about me, and if the little life that
is left me can make him happier, I will
devote it to him gladly, proudly-poor
Roger! You see am too old for pre-
lenses, Mr.. Gourlay, and I fear I am
dying; therefore, 1 tell you all. :"
"Dying, AliceP No, no! you viii
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