Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1880-03-11
Hisrenang,
TWO LOYAL HEARTS.

In quiet street off one Of the quiet
squares there is tall, gloomy house, with
narrow, dusty windows, and n massive
double door, that still bears u brass plate
with the words "Gourlay Brothers" en-
graved thereon.
The lower part of the house was used as
IN office, but the blinds were rarely drawn
up, the door seldom swung back to the
energetic push Of customers, the long pas
sage echoed no hurried footsteps, and Eli
Haggart, the clerk, was, to all appearance,
the idest man in London, till one came to
know his masters.
The Gourlay Brothers were never any
buster than their faithful old servant
never hurried, Rurred, or worried; never
late and never early. Every morning at
ten o'clock they entered their Office to-
gether, read Their 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
he seen passing along the sunny side of
Cannon street; at half past one they
entered 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,
melancholy looking, with light gray eyes,
scanty gray hair and whiskers, and gem
eral expression of drabncss prevailing his
whole face and faultlcssly 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 yet quite
transmitted to silver, clean shaved ruddy
face, and brown hands full of dents and
dimples. John was tue elder: still he
looked up to Roger with grave respect,
consulted him on every subject, and never,
either in or out of busiess, took any step
without his advice and approval, And
Roger was no less deferentlaI; without any
profession OF affection, or display Of lepl-
ing, the Gourlay brothers dwelt together
in closest friendship and love; their life
was long harmony, and during all the
years OF their partnership, no shadow had
fallen between them, and their public life
was as harmonious us 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 il
getting, not spending, they were believed
and with reason, to be immensely wealthy
"Cold, hard, stern, enterprising, mer
called them, with an acuteness Of vsor
and steadiness of purpose only to bt
acquired by long and close application t.
business. Reserved in manner, simple il
their tastes, economical in their habits
the Gourlay Brothers were the last men il
the world to be suspected of sentiment
their lives the least likely to contain eve,
the germs of q romance. And yet the,
had not been always mere business ma
chimes; the sole aim and end of their ex
lstence had not always been money. Ii
early years they had brighter dreams
nobler ambitions.
At school John had distinguished him
self, and his brief university career CAV
promise of brilliant future. Roger ha
been bright, ardent boy, with tast
for music that was almost passion, an
talent little short of genius. With hi
deep earnestness, intense steadiness G
purpose, and clear, vigorous intellect
distinguished lawyer. Roger was a Dor
artist. with restless, lofty ambition
Life seemed very bright for the brothers
there was nothing to prevent, and every
thing to assist, each in following his incl
nation. But i'll the very dawn OF thei
career their father died, and they wer
suddenly reduced from affluence to actuf
poverty. Nothing remained from th
wreck Of a magnificent fortune but tn
bitter experience that always accompi
mes such reverses. Fine friends faile
them, flatterers looked coldly on the
distress, those who had most freely pa
taken of their lavish hospitality passe
by on the other side. Not a friend r,
NAMED in their adversely but one, an
she had indeed the will but not the pow,
to help them. The boys left the collel
and turned their thoughts to business.
was hopeless to attempt to follow up the
professions with an invalid mother ar
idolized only sister depending on them 4
support. John secured situation
clerk in o city warehouse. Roger acceI
ed q desk in the office of Bernard Russo
an old friend of his fathers. They NOV
to cheap lodgings, and for several yea
plodded on weary, the only CLEAN Of su
SHINE in their altered home being the {
casional visits of Alice Russell to the
sister. Maude Gourlay and Ali
pd been schoolfellows and friend
hey usually spent their vacations togett
and Alice felt the misfortune that had {
len on the family as if it had oyertak
her own. But she could do nothing
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