Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-05-26
Two Loyal Hearts.

squares there ia tall, gloomy house, with
narrow, dusty windows, and a massive
double door, that still bears brass plate
with the words ''Gourlay Brothers en-
graved thereon.
The lower part of the house was used as
an Office, but the blinds were rarely drawn
up, the door seldom swung back to the en-
getic push of. customers, the long passage
echoed no hurried footsteps, and Eli Hag-
CART. the clerk, was, to all appearance, the
idlest man In London, till one came TO know
his masters.
The Gourlay Brothers were never any
buster than their faithful old servant
never hurried, flurried, or worried; never
ate and never early. Every morning Of
ten O'Clock they entered their office to.
gether, read .heir letters, glanced at the
paper, left instructions for possible callers,
and then went to the city. They always
took the same route; at eleven they might
be seen passing along the sunny side u
Cannon street at half-past one they en-
tered the same restaurant, and SAT down for
luncheon. Wet or dry, shade or shine,
summer or winter, every working day for
thirty years they had gone through the
same routine, always excepting the month
of September, when they took their annual
holiday.
They were elderly men-John tall, thin,
me,ancholy-looking, with light gray eyes,
scanty gray hair and whiskers and gen.
eral expression of drabness pervading his
whole face and fsultlessly neat attire.
Roger was shorter, rounder, more cheerful
end generally warmer in color. His per-
vading hue was brown, keen reddish eyes
that must have been merry once, crisp
auburn hair that time had not yet quite
transmitted to silver, clean-shaved, ruddy
face and brown hands full of dents and
dImples. John was the elder; still he
looked up to Roger with grave respect, con-
suited him on every subject. and never,
either IN our out of business, took any step
without his advice and approval. And
ROGER was no less deferential. Withou
anv profession of affection or display OF
feeling, the Gourley BROTHERS dwelt together
in closest friendship and love. Their life
was a long harmony, and during all the
wears of their partnership no shadow had
fallen between them, and their public life
was as harmonious at their private inter-
course. In business they were successful,
every speculation they made prospered
everything they touched turned to gold
and as their whole lives were spent in get
ting, not spending, they were believed, and
with reason. to be immensely wealthy.
.'Cold, hard, stern, enterprising," men
called them. with an acuteness of vision
and steadiness of purpose, only to be ac-
auired by long and close application TO
business. Reserved in manner, simple in
their tastes, economical in their habits, the
Gourlay Brothers were the last men In the
world to be suspected of sentiment, their
lives the least likely to contain even the
germs Of romance. And yet they had not
been always mere business machines; the
sole aim and end of their existence had not
always been money. In early years they
had brighter dreams, nobler ambitions.
At school John had distinguished him.
self, and his brief university career gave
promise of brilliant future. Roger had
been a bright, ardent boy, with a taste for
music that was almost passion, and tai
ent little short OF genius. With his deep
earnestness, intense steadiness of purpose,
and clear, vigorous intellect, John could
scarcely have failed TO make distinguished
lawyer. Roger was born artist, with a
restless, lofty ambition. Life seemed very
bright for the brothers; there was nothing
to prevent, and everything to assist, each
in following his inclination. But in the
yery dawn of their career THAR father died,
and they were suddenly reduced from affiu-
ence to actual poverty. Nothing remained
from the wreck of magnificent fortune but
the bitter experience that always accom-
NAMES such reverses. Fine friends failed
than, flatterers looked coldly on their dis
tress. those who had most freely partaken
Of their lavish hospitality passed by on the
ether side. Not friend remained in their
adversity but one, and she had indeed the
will, but not the power, to help them.
The boys left the college and turned their
thoughts to business. 1t was hopeless to
attempt to follow up their professions with
an invalid mother and idolized only sister
depending on them for support. John
secured situation as clerk in city ware
house. Roger accepted desk in the office
of Bernard Russell, an old friend OF his
fathers. They moved to cheap lodgings,
and for several years plodded on wearily,
the only gleam of sunshine in their altered
home being the occasional visits OF Alice
RUSSELL to their sister. Maude Gourlay
and Alice had been schoolmates and friends
they usually spent their vacations together
and Alice felt the misfortune that had fai
len on the family as if i. had overtaken hel
own But she could do nothing excep
! nav them flying visits, send trifiing gifts o.
frnit and flowers, and write pretty sympa
tbetic notes to Maude.
A few years of hardship and poverty toi'
m Ms Gourlay's always feeble frame
still for her daughters sake she clung u
life with strange tenacity; but wheI
Maude's lover, who had gone to Australia
to make his fortune, returned, not wealthy
but sufficiently so to claim hls bride in he
altered circumstances Mrs. Gouria,
saemed to have no other object to live for
Il 4 >.a