The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-05-20

4oe eomoef, saddened walls OF converts in the
een they carry dead beneath Ahambras walls-
1S9e ~ :haded ..ches it eolonnades and I'll
PaAoe ximine9 stu survives;
Though deaf and blind, he spends each day
y s9.. BRINGING up The past, end thus revives,
GOURLAY BROTHERS.
In quiet street off one of the quiet
squares in the vicinity of Holborn, there
is tall gloomy house, with narrow dusty
windows and a massive double door, that
still bears brass plate with the words
"Gourlay Brothers, engraved thereon.
The lower part Of the house was used
as an Office, but the blinds were rarely
drawn up, the door seldom swung back
t. the energetic push of customers, the
long passage echoed no hurried Footsteps
and Eli Haggart, the clerk, was to all up
pearance the idlest man in London, till
one came to know his masters.
The Gourlay Brothers were never any
busler than their faithful old servant
never hurried, never flurrled or worried
never late and never early. Every morn
ing at ten o'clock they entered their Of
ce%ogether, read their letters, glanced
at the Times, left instructions for pos
sible callers, and then went to the CITY.
They always took the same route; at elev-
en-, they might he seen passing along the
sunny side of Cannon Street. at half-past
one they entered the same restaurant, and
sat at the same table for luncheon. Wet
or dry, shade or shine, sum mcr or winter,
every working-day for thirty years they
had gone through the same routine, al
ways excepting the month of September,
when they took their usual holiday.
They were elderly men: John, tall,
thin, melancholy looking, with light
gray eyes, scanty gray hair and whiskers,
and general expression Of drabness per
vading his whole face and faultless neat
attire. Roger was shorter, rounder, more
cheerful, ard generally warmer in color
His pervadlng hue was brown, keen red
dish eyes that must have been merry
once, crisp auburn hair that time had not
quite yet transmitted to silver, a clean
shaved ruddy face, and brown hands full
of dents and dimplcs. John was the
elder, still he looked up to Roger with
grave respect, consulted him on every
subject, and never in or out Of business
took any step without his advice or ap'
proval. And Roger was no less deteren-
tial: without any profession CT affection
or display Of feeling, the Gourlay Broth.
ers dwelt together in the clssct friend.
ship and love; their life was long har
mony, and during all the years OF their
partnership no shadow had fallen be-
tween them, and their public life was as
harmonious as their private intercourse.
In business they were successful; every
speculation they made prospered, every
thing they touched turned to gold; and
as their whole llvcs.were spent in getting,
not spending, they were believed, and
with reason, to be immensely wealthy.
"Cold, hard, stern, enterprislng," me n
called them with an acuteness Of vision
and steadiness of purpose only to be
acquired 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
were not always mere business machines
the sole end and aim of their existence
had not always been money. In early
years they had had brighter dreams,
nobler ambitions.
At school John had distinguish 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 passion, and
talent little short of genius. With
his deep earnestness, intense steaIiness
Of purpose and clear, vigorous intellect.
John could scarcely have failed to make
distinguished lawyer. Roger was a
born artist, with restless, lofty ambi-
ton: Life seemed very bright for the
brothers; there was nothing to prevent,
and every thing to assist each in fol
lowing his inclination. But in the very
dawn of their career their father died,
and they were suddenly reduced from af-
f1ucnce to actual poverty. Nothing re-
NAMED from the wreck of magnificent
fortune but the bitter experience that al
ways accompanies such reverscs. Fine
friends failed them, flatterers looked
coldly in their distress, those who had
most frequently partaken OF their lavish
hospitality passed by on the other side.
Not friend remained in their adversely
but one, and she had indeed the will but
not the power to help them. The boys
lett college, and turned their thoughts to
business. It was hopeless to attempt to
follow up their professions, with an in
valid mother and idolized only sister de-
pending on them for support. John Sc.
cured situation as clerk in city ware.
house. Roger accepted desk in the of:
flee Of Bernard Russell, an old friend OF
his fathers. They moved to cheap lode.
ings, and tor several years ploddcd on
wearhy, 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
schoolfellows and friends; they usually
spent their vacations together, and Alice
telt the misfortune that had fallen on
the family as it it had overtaken her own
But she could do nothing only pay them
flying visits, send trihing gifts Of fruit
and flowers, and write pretty, sympa.
thetic notes to Maude.
Afew years Of hardship and poverty
told on Mrs. Gourlay's always feeble
frame, still for her daughters sake she
chung to life with strange tenaclty; but
when Maude's lover, who had gone to
Australia to make his fortune, returned
not wealthy, but sufficiently so to claim
his bride in her altered circumstances
Mn. Gourlay seemed to have no othel
object to live for. Mande's marriage wa
hastened, and the very day after the cere'
mony the poor, weary, heart-broker
mother died. George Leslie took hi,
wife back with him to Sydney, and Johr
and Roger were literally alone in tn.
world.
As If in bitter mockery of their los
and loneliness, Immediately after thei1
mothers death the brothers inherited ,
small fortune. But 1t was too late TO
John to 60 back to his studies, too lat