The Iola register., 1880-03-26

? no difference between us. We shall
Gourlay Brothers still.''
} Roger stretched his hand across Ii
table, and John grasped it heartily.
"Gourlay Brothers to the end of th
chapter, old fellow, and may you be 9
happy as you deserve. God bless yor
john"
Johns face became q shade or tw
paler with emotion, and he walked u
and down the room q few times; the
he stood behind his brothers chair.
Roger, you will think me very weak
very nervous, but I dare not speak +
Alice myself. I could not endure q re
fusal from her. have never even givel
her the most distant hint of my feelings
I have not the slightest reason to sup
pose that she regards me as other thar
a mere acquaintance, at most as Maude'
brother. Roger, we have always beer
friends as well as brothers stand BY
me in this; you are less shy and more
accustomed to women; see Alice fo1
me, ask her to be my wife,
"John, you're mad! You do not mean
it,"
81 do, it is my only chance. Plead
for my happiness, brother, as I would
plead for yours. I am q man of few
words, but I feel deeply. A refusal
from her lips would kill me; could
hear it from you"
GAS you will, John; IN do my best, -
and Roger leaned his head on his hand
and shadowed his face from the light,
"I'l call on Alice tomorrow"
The next day was the longest of John
Gourlay's life-a 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. q
SWELL" John said gently; "well,
Roger, have you seen her?"
Yes, I've seen her, and Roger
faced round suddenly. "John, old fel-
low, its no use. -
"Brother! -" and he lifted his hand as
if to ward off blow.
"It's no use," Roger went on in a
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, stiaed 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 sef-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.
"Jack, old fellow, we're Gourlay |
Brothers now to the end of the chapter"
he said, huskily. 81 know you'll never
marry, and neither will l." and some
how John felt that Roger meant what
lie said.
Twenty-Five years passed by, quar-
er; of century of changes and chances
Ind still the Gourlay Brothers held the
'ven tenor of their way. They were
'ich beyond their wishes or desires, and
lot altogether unhappy in their solitary
Alice Russell seemed to have
lrifted completely out of their lives;
Ter name was never mentioned, and
whether she was married or dead they
lid not know.
One morning about the middle of
september they we're walking along the
ling's road at Brighton, whether they
ad gone for their annual holiday.
loger entered shop to purchase some
hing, and John stood outside looking ,
reamily at the passers-by. Suddenly !;
e advanced step as lady in an in !
aid chair was wheeled by. CHANGING ,
. look up, she met his glance with a ;
mile OF recognition. "Mr. Gourlay, it i,
urely is, it must be you. I am so glad :
, see you!' :
"And I to meet you" John said, :
18th courteous bow. 81 have not the
leasure of knowing .
"My name-I am Alice Russell STILL y
he said frankly. At that moment Roger o
ppeared. For an instant the blood for n
'ok his ruddy face, while hot crimson c