Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-07-29

their adversely but one, anu she had IN
deed 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 pro-
fession with an invalid mother and idol
lied only sister depending on them for
support, John secured situation as
clerk in a city warehouse. Roger ac
cepted q desk in the Office of Bernard
Brussel, an Old friend of his fathers
They moved to cheap lodgings, and for
several years plodded on YEARLY, the
only CLEAN Of sunshine in their altered
home being the occasional visits OF Alice
Russell to their sister Maude Gourlay
and Alice had been school.felows and
friends; they usually spent their vacation
together, and Alice felt the misfortune
that had fallen on the family as if it had
overtaken her own. But She could do
nothing except nay them flying visits,
send tihing gifts of fruit and flowers,
and write pretty, sympathetic notes to
Msude.
\ few years of hardship and poverty
told on Mrs GOurlays always feeble
frame, still for her daughters sake she
chung to life with a strange tenacity;
but when Maude's lover, who had gone
to- Australia to make his fortune, re-
turned, not wealthy, but sufficiently so to
claim his bride, it altered circumstances.
Mrs GOurlay seemed to have no other
object To live for Maude's marriage was
hastened, and the very day after the GER
emory the poor weary. broken.hearted
mother died. George Leslie took his wife
back with him to Sidney, and John and
Roger Gourlay were literally alone in the
world.
AS if in bitter mockery of their loss
and loneliness, Immediately after their
mothers death the brothers inherited
small fortune. But it was too late for
John to 20 back to his studies, too late
ior Roger to return to his piano. They
had fallen into the groove of business,
and John at least was seized with a
teyerish eagerness to turn his small
fortune into a large one and become
wealthy. So they went into business
on their own account rs GOurlay Broth
ers, with the firm resolution of retrieving
the position their father had lost, and
very few years saw them established in
Whittier street, and fairly on the high
road To fortune Then one quiet summer
evening, rs they sat over their dessert,
john opened his heart to his brother and
told him of his hopes, dreams, and ambi-
tons for the future.
" You will Le surpris d, and | trust
pleased to hear, Roger, that | love Alice
Russell" he said, laying his hand on his
brothers arm " can hardly remember
the time when she was not dearer to me
than all the world beside, The bitterest
part Of our misfortune To me was that II
separated me from her; the only thing
that has sustained me through our long
struggle was the hope of some day win
ming her; nothing else can ever compen-
safe me for the ruin Of all my hopes and
glorious ambitions. | once dreamed of
being famous, Roger; for her sake | put
that behind me, and have grubbed for
gold Ikea miser. We, Gourlay Brothers,
are on the high road to fortune; | may
aspire to the hand of Alice now
surely, John and the younger
brothers voice was husky, and his hand
shook as he took up his glass; | drink
to your success
Thanks, brother | should have told
you all this before, ] should have contided
in YOU, but feared troubling you on my
account; you would have seen thousand
shadows across my path, you would have
b en- more unhappy than | was myself.
And now | want YOU to promise that 1t
shall be Gourlay Brothers still
Roger stretched his hand across The
table, and John grasped it heartily.
Gourlay Brothers to the end OF the
chapter, old fellow, and may you be as
happy rs you deserve. Goa bless you
John"
Johns face became a shade or two paler
with emotion, and he walked up and
down the room a few times then he stood
behind his brothers chair.
Roger, You will think me.vcrY weak,
very nervous, but | dare not speak to
Alice myself | could not endure re-
tusal from her / have never even given
her the most distant hint of my feelings.
have not the slightest reason to suppose
that she regards me rs other than mere
acquaintance, ut most rs Maude's brother.
Roger, we have always been friends as
well a. brothers stand 10y me IN TINS;
YOU are less shy and more accustomed to
women. sc Alice for me, ask her to be
my wife
. John, you're mad You do not mean
it"
Il do. II is my only chance, Plead for
my happiness, brother, n would plead
for YOURS | am a man of few words, but
| feel deeply. A refusal from her lips
would kill me; | could bear il from you.
AS you will John; I'll do my best"
and Roger leaned his head on his hand
and shaded his face from the light " I'll
call on Alice To morrow
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 lie went about
his business rs usual, ate his luncheon