Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-07-29
GOURLAY BROTHERS
THE STORY OF TWO LOYAL HEARTS


In a quiet street of one of the quiet
squares there is a tall, gloomy house, with
narrow, dusty windows, and u massive
double door that still bears brass plate
with the words Gourlay Brothers en-.
graved thereon.
The lower part of the house was used
as an office, but the blinds were rarely
drawn up; the door seldom swung back
to the energetic push of customers; the
long passage echoed no hurried foot
steps and Eli Haggart the clerk, was
TO all appearances the idlest man in
London, III 5ne came to know his mas.
tiers
The Gourlay brothers were never any
buster than their faithful old servant 49,
never hurried, Hurried, or worried; never
late and never carly 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 be seen passing along the
sunny side of Cannon street; at 80 they
entered the same restaurant, and sat at
the same table 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--Johu, tall,
thin, melancholy looking, with light
gray eyes, scanty gray hair and whiskers,
and general expression of drabncsS per
vadng his whole face, and iaultlcsly
neat attire. Roger was shorter, rounder,
more cheerful and generally warmer in
color. His pervadng hue was brown,
keen reddish eyes that must havA been
merry once, crisp auburn hair that time
had not vet quite transmitted to silver, a
clean shaved, ruddy face, and brown
hands full of dents aud dimpleS John
was the elder; still he looked up to Roger
With grave respect, consulted him on
every subject, and never, either in or out
Of business, took any step without his
advice and approval And Roger was no
less defrreuUal; without any profession
of .Gilectation or display OF feeling, the
C}oUglay brothers dwelt together in closest
Friendship and love; their life was a long
harmony, and during all the years of their
partnership no shadow had fallen between
them, and their public life was as har-
moniOus as their private intercourse. In
business they were successful; every spec
ulation they made prospered, everything
they touched turned to gold; and As their
whole lives were spent in getting, not
spending, they were believed, and with
reason to be Immensely wealthy. Cold,
hard, stern, cnterprising,' men called
them; with m aCutenesS of vision and a
steadiness of purpose only To be acquired
bg tong and close application to business
Reserved in manner, simple IN Their
tastes. economical in their habits, tue
Gourlay brothers were the last men IN Ia
world Ia he suspected of sentiment, their
lives the least likely to contain even the
germs of a romance. And yet thcy hau
not ALWAYS been mere business machlneSi
the sole aim and end OF their existence
had not always been money. In early
wears they had brighter dreams, nooIer
ambitions
school John had distinguished him
self and his brief university career gave
promise of brilliant future Roger had
been a bright, ardent boy, with 4 taste lor
music that was almost a passion, ana
talent little short of genius, win MS
deep cAynes,ncSS. intense SleadlneSS OF
purpose. and clear, vigorous luleNetl
John could scarcely have failed to make
a DISTINGUISHED lawyer. Roger was q
born artist, with restless, lofty amplttoh,
Life seemed very bright Tor the oroIhefSi
there was nothing 70 prevent, ana every
thing Ia assist each in following ms IN
clnaiion But in the very dawn OF thelr
career their father died, and they were
suddenly reduced from atilutnee 10 actU-
nj poverty Nothing remained from Tue
wreck Of n magnificent fortune, but tue
bitter experience that always accompanies
such reverses. Fine friends failed them
/. their