The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-08-24

shook as no took up his glass; 81 drink to
your success"
Thanks, brother. I should have told
you all this before | should have confdea
in you, but feared troubling you ON my
account; you would have seen n thousand
shadows across my path, you would have
been more unhappy than WAS myself.
And now / want you 10 promise that it
shall make no difference. We shall DO
Gourlay Brothers still"
Roger stretched his hand across tho
table, and John Grssped it heartily.
"Gourlay Brothers to tho end of the chap
ter, old fellow, and may you DO Rs happy
Is you deserve. God bless you, Johnr'
Johns face became a shade or two paler
with emotion and he walked up and down
the roem n few times; thon 10 stood bo-
hind hi. brothers chair.
Roger, you will think mo very weak,
very nervous, but / dare not speak to
Alice myself. ] could not endure a re-
fusal frsm her. l 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 4 nero
acquaintance, at most as Naude's brother.
Roger, we have always been friends as
we'll rs brothers-stand by mo in this;
you ara less shy and mors accustomed to
women; see Alice for me, ask her to be
mywife"
John, you're mad, You do not mean
it,r
''I de; IL Is my only chance. Plead for
my happiness, brother, / would plead
for yours; am a man of few words, but
i feel deeply. A refusal from her lips
would kill me; / could hear il from you"
''As you will, John; I'll do my best"
and Roger leaned his head on his hand,
al I.I - - -. E,rhf ssTfII
call on Alice tomorrow
The next day was the longest OF John
Gourlay's life, 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 tho window watching for
him, and he hspt his back to him when ho
entered the room.
"Wellr' John said gently, well, Roger.
have you seen herr"
Yes. I've seen her" and Roger faced
round suddenly; John, old fellow, it's
no use!'
Brother and he lifted ais hand as IL
to ward OF u blow.
Its no use" Roger went on in hard
voice, "sha does not love you. Ske loves
some one else. Be man, John, and bear
it, for there's no hope"
Ono 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
tho dinner table hs WAS calm and self
p0ssessrh, hut something had either come
ints his face or gone out Of il that altered
him. But OF the two Roger looked the
most unhappy. The blow had really
fallen most heavily on him.
Jack, old follow. we're Gourlay Bro
theirs now to the end of the chapter" +" he
said huskily. know you'll never marry,
and neither will !, and somehow John
felt that Roger meant what he said.
twenty-five years passed by. quarter
OF n century of changes and chances and
still the Gourlay Brothers held the oven
tenor OF their way. They were rich be
yond their wishes or desires and not al
together unhappy in their solitary friend
ship. 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 shop to purchase something
and John stood outside looking drc..miIy
at the rasscrs-by. Suddsnly ho stared
and advanced = step, as a lady in an in
valid chair was wheeled by. CHANGING to
look up sho met his glance with smile
of recognition. 'Mr. GourIay. it surely
Is, it must be you am SO glad TO SEQ
your
And I to meet you, ;" John said. with n
courteous bow. II have not the pleasure
OF Knowing"
My name-I am Alice Russell still,-
shesaid frankly. AT that moment Roger
appeared. For an instant the blood for
sook his ruddy face, while = hot crimson
flush rose 20 Alice's pale cheek rs she tried
TO stamner out some words OF greeting.
Roger was no les, confused. and the ex-
preston Of both face. was n revelation to
John Gourlay. He felt ns IL the world had
suddenly drifted away from him and be
was left solitary In some unknown infinite
space. But there was nothing OF that in
his voice as he asked Alice for her address,
and permission to call upon her in the af-
ternoon; then taking his brother by the
arm he led him away, and they continued
their walk without exchanging a single
word about the strange encounter.
In the afternoon John called at Miss
Russcll's hotel, and in few moments he
found himself seated beside her in pleas
ant sitting-room overlooking the sea
Alice" he said, plunEins into the sub
ject at once, do you remember - conver-
sation you had with my brother \ long
time sgo,"
YES, remember, Mr.. Gourlay," she
said sadly.
He made a request for me thsn which
10 was not in yoar power to grant; / am
come to make a similar one TO- him now.
h.. v,l
all those long weary years, though You
will st least believe did not know it
then"
Poor Rogerr' Alice said softly.
"You care about him, You will make
him happy even at this late hour' Tell
me, Alicr, that you love my brother''
''Yes, Mr.. Gourlay, do. Why should
denyit, have loved him always, though
did not know that he cared about me,
and il tho little life that is left me can
make him happier, / will devote il to him
gladly, proudly-poor Roger! You sec
am too Old for pretensc-, Nr. Gourlay,
and fear am dying; therefore l tell you
all"
dying, Alice, No, no. you will live
many years yet. l hope, TO make my dear
brother happy-brave, loyal, Sreat-hearted
Roger Let me send him to you now,
and, Alice. for my old and lorS afTcction's
sake, make him happy He deserves it,
and that is the only way I can ever help
TO repay the devotion OF his life"
II love him." Alice replied simply, Il
cannot DO any more"
In their lodgings John Gourlay found
his brother pasing restlessly up and down
Roger, I've found ont your secret aud
hers" he said, laying both his hands on his
shoulders; loyal, faithful friend, 30 TO
her; she loves you, sheis waiting for you"
Poor Alice! how she must have suf-
feredr'
"How we all have suffered but it's
nearly over now, Roger-Grief. pain. re
gret. It's all clear and bright. Roger,
dear friend. can you forgive mes'
Forgive you, John! Say rather can
You forgive mcf'