Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-06-11

1
was hasteHed, and the very day after the
ceremony, the poor, weary, broken
hearted mother died. George Leslie took
his wife back with him to Sydney, 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 a
small fortune. But it was too late for
John to go 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 a fever
ish eagerness to turn his small fortune
into large one and become wealthy.
So they went into business on their own
account as Gourlay Brothers, with the
firm resolution of retrieving the position
their father had lost, and very few
years saw them established in Whittier
street and fairly Oh tle high road to for.
tune. Then one quiet summer evening
as they sat over their dessert John opened
his heart to his brother and told him of
his hopes, dreams and ambitions for the
future.
"You will be surprised, and I trust
pleased, to hear, Roger, that l love Alice
RUSSELL" he said, laying his hand on his
brothers arm; Il 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 it
separated me from her; nothing else can
ever compensate me for the ruin of all
my hopes and glorious ambitions. Ionce
dreamed of being famous, Roger; for her
sake put that behind me, and l have
grubbed for gold like miser. We,
Gourlay Brothers, are on the high road
to fortune; l may aspire to the hand of
Alice now!"
Surely, John," and the younger broth
theirs voice was husky, and his hand
shook as he took up his glass; II drink
to your success"
Thanks, brother. should have con-
tided in you, but feared troubling you
on my account; you would have seen a
thousand shadows across my path, you
would have been more unhappy than l
was myself. And now l want you to
promise that it shall make no difference
between us. We shall be Gourlay Broth
ers still"
Roger stretched his hand across the ta-
BILE, and John grasped it heartily.
"Gourlay Brothers to the end of the
chapter, old fellow, and may you be as
happy as you deserve. God bless you.
John"
John'face became shade or two paler
with emotion, and he walked up and
down the room few times; then he
stood behind his brots.r's chair.
Roger, you Will think me very weak,
very nervous, but dare not speak to
Alice myself. ] could not endure a re-
fusal from her. l have never 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, almost 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; see Alice for me, Roger, and ask
her to be my wife"
John, you're mad! You do not
mean i'll"
II do; its my only chance. Plead for
my happiness, brother, as I would plead
for yours. / am man of very few words,
but l feel deeply. A refusal from her
lips would kill me; l could hear it from
you!"
GAS you will, John; I'll de my BEST"
and Roger leaned his face on his hand
and shaded his face from the light. "I'll
call on Alice tomorrow"
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. He went about
his business as usual, ate his luncheon,
and walked home leisurely. Roger was
standing at the window watching for
him, and he kept his back to him when
he entered the room.
"Well," John said, gently, "well,
Roger, have you seen herP"
Eyes, I've seen her." said Roger, facing
round suddenly. John, old fellow, it's
no use."
"Brotherv' and he lifted his hand as if
to ward off a blow.
"It's no use," Roger went on in 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, stified groan and then John
Gourlay wrung his brothers hand and
walked steadily out of the room. What
he suffered in the hours that followed no
one ever knew, and when he appeared at
the dinner-table he was calm and self
possessed. But OF the two Roger looked
the most unhappy. The blow had really
fallen most heavily on him.
Jack, old fellow, we're the Gourlay
Brothers now to the end of the chapter"
he said, huskily. 81 know you'll never
marry, and neither will l." and some
how John felt that Roger meant what he
said.
Twenty-Five years passed by, a quarter
of century of changes and chances,
| and still thn Enurlau Rrnthnra hald th1