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

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pay them flying visits, send trifling gifts of
fruit and flowers, and write pretty sympa-
thetic notes to Mautle.
A few years of hardship and poverty told
on Mrs. Gourlay's always feeble frame,
still for her daughters sake she cung to
life with strange tenacity; but when
Maudes lover, who had gone to Australia
to mako his fortune, returned, not wealthy,
but sufficiently 30 to claim his bride In her
altered circumstances. Mrs. Gourlay
seemed to have no other object to live for.
Maudcs marriage was fastened, and the
very day after the ceremony, the poor,
weary, broken hearted mother died. George
Leslie took his wife back with him to Syd-
ncy, and John and Roger Gourlay were
literally alone in the world.
AS if in bitter moclicry of their loss, and
loneliness, Immediately after their mothers
death the brothers inherited a small for
tune. Butit was too late for John to 70
back to his studies, too late for Roger to
return to his piano. They had fallen into
the groove of business, and John at least
was seized with fcverish cagerness TO turn
his small fortune into larger one and be.
come wealthy. So they went into business
on their own account as Gourlny Brothers
with the firm resolution of retrieving the
position their father had lost, and very
few years saw thom established In Whittier
street, and fairly OH the high road to for.
tune. Then one quiet summer evening, as
! Shav ont fbntp
his heart to his brother and told him of his
hopes, dreams and ambitions of his future.
| You will be surprised, and | trust
pleased, to hear, Roger, that l love Alice
RUSSELL. lie said, laying his hand on his
/ brothers arm, " can hardly remember the
time when she was not dcarer to me than
all the world beside. The Dittercst purt of
| olr misfortune 10 me was that it separated
me from her; the only thing that has sus
tanned me through our long struggle was
the hope of some day winning her. nothing
else can ever compensate me for the ruin
OF all my hopes and glorious ambitions. 7
once dreamed of being famous, Roger for
her sake put that behind me, and grubbcd
ava S"AN ANU " AlloSls VIC, bOlTlnS
Brothers, are Oh the high road to for
tune; may aspire 10 the hand of Alice
now !"
'>omcly, John,' and the younger
brothers voice was husky, and his hand
shook as he took up his glass; II drink TO
your success"
''Thanks, brother. | should have told
you all this before, should have confded
III you. but feared troubling you on my
account, you would have seen thousand
shadows across my path, you would have
been more unhappy than was myself.
And now want you to promise that 1t
shall make no difference between us. We
! shall be Gourlay Brothers STILL"
Roger stretched his hand across tho table,
and John grasped 1t heartily.
"Gourlay Brothers to the end Of the
chapter. old fellow, and may you be as
happy as you deserve. God bless you
john"
Johns face became shade or two paler
with emotion, and he walked up and down
the room few minutes; then he stood be-
hind his brothers. chair
'Rogcr, you will think me very weak,
very nervous, but dare not speak to Alico
myself. ! could not endure q refusal 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 as other than mere acquaintance, ut
most as Maude's brother. Roger, we have
always been friends as well as brothers,
stand by me in this; you are less shy and
more accustomed TO women sec Alice for
me, ask her TO be my wife,"
"John, you're mad! You do not mean
It'll"
II do; it is my only chance. Plead for
my happiness, brother, as would plead
for yours. am man of few words
bnt feel deeply. A refusal from her lips
would kill me; l could hear it from you."
GAS you will, John; III do my best"
and Roger leaned his head on his hand and
shaded his face from the light; "i'll call on
Alice tomorrow"
Tho next day was the longest of John
douray's llfo-a bright, warm, happy day,
that made people even in the city look glad
and cheerful. Hc went about his business
as usual, ate his slunchcon, and walked home
leisnrely. Roger was standing at the win
dow watching for him, and he kept his back
to him when ho entered the room.
"Well,' John said, gently; "wcll,
Roger, have you seen hcr2"
"Ycs, I've seen her, and Roger faced
around suddenly. Wohn, old fellow, it's
no use"
'Brother!" and he lifted his hand as IL
to ward off blow.
"lt's no USE" Roger wen! or in y hard
voice. ''She does not love you; she loves
some one else. BE man, John, and bear
it, for there's no hope"
One low stincd proan and tbon John