The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1880-04-08

hioshSi y hNaph lhC DlOthNi
small fortune. But it was too
late for John to 20 back to HE
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 q feverish
eagerness to turn hi, small fortune into
large one and become wealthy. Sc
they went into bushes, on their own ac'
count as Gourlay Brothers, with the
firm resolution CT retrieving the position
their father had lost, and a few year;
later saw them established in Whittier
street, and fairly on the high road tc
fortune. 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 trust
pleased, to hear, Roger, that love
Alice Russell" he said, laying his hand
on his brothers. arm; " | can hardly re.
member the time when she was not
dearer to me than all the world besides.
The bittercst part of our misfortune to
me was that IL separated me from her
the only thing that has sustained 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.
tnce dreamed of being famous, Roger:
for her sake put that behind me, and
have grUbbcd for gold like Il miser. We,
Gourlay Brothers, are on the high road
to fortune; may aspire to the hand Of
Alice now
"Surcly, John" and the younger
brothers voice was husky, and his hand
shook as he took up his glass; 81 drink
to your success"
"Thanks, brother. ! should have
told you all this before, ] should have
coniidcd in you, but feared troubling
you on my account. You would have
seen thousand shadows across my
path; you would have been more UNI
happy than | was myself, And now !
want you to promise that it shall make
no difference between US. We shall be
Gourlay Brothers still"
Roger stretched his ha1d across the
table, 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"
Johns face became u shade or two
paler with emotion, and he walked up
and down the room Il few times; then
he stood behind his brothers. chair.
" Roger, you will think me very weak,
very nervous, but dare not speak to
Alice myself. could not endure re-
iusal from her. have never even
given her the IN 81 distant hint OF my
feeling. have not the slightest reason
to suppose that she regards me rs other
than n mere acquaintance, at most AZ
Maude's brother. Roger, We have
always been friends rs well as brothers
stand by me in this; you are less shy
and more accustomed to women; see
Alice for me and ask her to be my wife"
John, you are mad You do not
mean i!!'
" do it is my only chance. Plead
for my happiness, brother, as | would
plead for yours; | am Il man of few
words, but feel deeply. A refusal
from her lips would kill me; could
hear it from you"
GAS you will, John; Pll do my best"
and Roger leaned his head on his hand,
and shaded his face from the light.
" i'il call on Alice 10. morrow
The next day was the longest Of John
Gourlay's life, Il bright, warm, happy
day, that made people, even in the city,
look glad and cheerful lie 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 herr"
-" Yes, Pve seen her, and Roger faced
round suddenly; "John, old fellow, it's
no use ~
"Brothcr!' and he lifted his hand as
if to ward of blow.
ITS no use" Roger went on, in
hard voice; she does not love YOU
She loves some one else. BE Il man,
John, and bear it, for there's no hope"
One low, stiiled 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
ut the dinner-table he was calm and self
possessed but something had either
come into his face, or gone out of it,
that altered him But OF the two, Roger
looked the most unhappy. The blow
had really fallen most heavily on him.
"Jack, old fellow, we're Gourlay
Brothers now, to the end of the chap
ter" he said, huskily. 81 know you'll
never marry, and neither will l." And
somehow John felt that Roger meant
what he said ...
Twenty-Five years passed by, a quar-
ter of "A century of changes and chances,
and still the Gouray Brothers held the
even tenor Of their way. They were
rich beyond their wishes or desires, and
not altogether unhappy in their solitary
friendship. Alice Russell seemed to
have drifted completely out of their
lives; her name was never mentioned,
and whether she was married or dead,
they did not know.
One morning, about the middle of Sep.
tember, as they walked along the Kings
Road, at Brighton, whittier they had
gone for their annual holiday,sRoger
entered shop to purchase something,
md John stood outside looking dreamily
1t the passers.by. Suddenly he stared
and advanced step, as Il lady in an
was wheeled by. Chanc.
ng to look, she met his glance with a
mile of recognition.
"Mr. Gourlay, it surely is, it must
De you. | am so glad to see you"
"And | to meet YOU" John said with
/ courteous bow. az have not the
pleasure of knowing"
!" NV nsme-I am Alice Russell still"