The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-06-15
Two Loyal Hearts.


double door, that still bears Il brass pluto
with the words "Gourlay Bfothers' en-,
graved thereon.
The lower part Of the house was used as
al 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 IIag.
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, tlurrod, or worried; mover
late and never early. Every morning at
ten o'clock they entered their office to.
gether, read their letters, glanced at the
paper, loft instructions for possible cnlers,
and then went to the city. They always
took the same route; at eleven they might
be seen passing along the sunny side of
Cannon street at half-past one they ell
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 mcn-John tall, thin
melancholy-looking, with light gray eyes,
scanty gray hair and whiskcrs and gen
eral expression of drabncss pcrvading his
whole face and fautlessly neat attire
Roger was shorter, rounder, more cheerful
and 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 vet quite
transmitted to silver, clean shaved, ruddv
face and brown hands full of dents and
dlmples. John was the elder; still he
looked up to Roger with grave respect, con.
suited him on every subject, and never,
either III our out of business, took any stem
without his advice and approval. And
Roger was no less dcierential. Without
any profession Of affection, or display of
feeling, the Gourley Brothers dwclt together
in closest friendship and love. Their life
was long harmony, and during all tie
years 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 prospcrcd
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, enterprlsing," men
called them, with an acuteness of vision
and steadiness of purpose, only to be &C
quired 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 no.,
always been money. In early years they
had brighter dreams, nobcr ambitions.
At school John had distinguished him
self, and his brief university career gave
promise OF brilliant future Roger had
been bright, ardent boy, with taste for
music that was almost Il passion, and a tai
eht little short OF genius. With his deep
carnestness, intense stcadiness 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 thore was nothing
to prevent, and everything to assist, each
in following his inclination. But in the
very dawn Of their career THAR father died
and they were suddenly reduced from afilu.
ence to actual poverty. Nothing remained
from the wreck of magnificent fortune but
the blttcr experience that always accom-.
panies such revorscs. Fine friends failed
them, aattercrs looked coldly on their dis
tress, those who had most freely partakcn
OF their lavish hospitality passed by on the
other side, Not friend remained in their
adversty but one, and shc had indeed the
VIII, but not the power, to help them.
The boys loft the college and turned their
thoughts to business. 1t was hopeless to
attempt to follow up their professions with
IN invalid mother and idolized only sistc,
depending on them for support. John
secured a situation as clerk in a city ware
house. Roger accepted desk in the office
OF Bernard Russell, On old friend of his
fathers. They moved to cheap lodgings,
ana Tor several years ploddcd on w"arily,
The only CLEAN Of sunshine IN their altered
home being the occasional visits of Alice
hussell to their sister. Maudo Gourlay
and Alice had been sclloolmates and friends;
,hey usually spent their vacations together
and Alice felt the misfortune that had fal.
len on the family as If IL had overtaken her
own But she could do nothing excep.