Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-05-26


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 fol
tune. But it was too late for John to &C
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 feverish eagerness to turn
his small fortune Into larger one and be.
come wealthy. So they went into bushes:
on their own account as Gourlay Brothers,
with the firm resolution of retrieving the
position their father had lost, and a very
few years saw them established in Whittier
street, and fairly on the 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 of his future.
You will be surprised, and l trust
pleased, to hear, Roger, that / love Alice
Russell" he said, laying his hand on his
brothers arm, 81 can hardly remember the
time when she was not dearer TO Inc than
ali tine world beside The Ditterest part of
our misfortune to 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. l
once dreamed of being famous, Roger; for
her sake put that behind me, and grubbed
for gold like a miser. We, Gourlay
Brothers, are on the high road to for
tune; l may aspire TO the hand Of Alice
now!''
".5urely, 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 confided
in you. but l 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 sou to promise that it
shall make no difference between us. We
shall be Gourlay Brothers still"
Roger stretched his hand across the table,
and John grasped it heartily.
''Gourlay Brothers TO the end st 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 minutes; then he stood be-
hind his brothers chair.
''Roger, you will think me very weak,
very nervous, but l dare not speak to Alice
myself / could not endure refusal from
her. / have never even given her the most
distant hint of my feelings. l have not the
slightest reason to suppose that she regards
me as other than mere acquaintance, at
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; see Alice for
NE, ask her to be my wife,
"John, you're mad! You do not mean
it,"
81 do; it is my only chance Plead for
my happiness, brother, as I would plead
for yours. l am a man of few words,
but / feel deeply. A refusal from her lips
would kill me; could hear it from you. ="
Gas you will, John; I'll do my best. !"
and Roger leaned his head 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
leisuroly. Roger was standing at the win
dow watching for him, and he kept his back
to him when he entered the room.
"Well,r John said, gently; ''well
Roger, have you seen her!'
"Yes, I've seen her." and Roger faced
around suddenly 'John, old fellow, it's
no use"
''Brother!" and he lifted his hand as if
to ward off blow.
ats 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, stifed 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 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 most heav-
lily on him.
Jack, old fellow, we're Gourlay Bro
theirs now to the end of the Chapter he
said, huskily. 81 know you'll never mar
ry, and neither will J." and somehow John
felt that Roger meant what he said
Twenty five years passed by, and quar-
ter of a century of changes and chances,
and still the Gourlay 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 they were walking along the Kings
road at Brighton, whittier they had gone
for their annual holiday. Roger entered a
shop to purchase something, and John
stood outside looking dreamily at the pass,
ersby. Suddenly he advanced step as g
lady in an invalid chair was wheeled by.
CHANGING to look up, she met his glance
with a smile Of recognition, mir. Gourlay
it surely is. it must be you. l am 50 GLAD