The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-08-24
G0URLAY BROTHERS.


windows, and a massive double door. that
still bears brass plate with the words
'Gourlny Brothers" engraved thereon
The lower part OF the house wa. used
as an Office, but the blinds were rarely
drawn up, the door seldom swung back
20 the energetic push OF customers the
long passage echoed no hurried footsteps,
Iad Eli HaEgart, the clerk, WAS to all ap-
pearance the idlest man in London, till
one came 20 know his masters.
The Gourlay Brothers were lever any
buster thau their faithful old servant
never hurried, flurricd or worried: never
late and never carly. Every morning at
zen o'clock they catered their Office to-
getEer, read their letters, glanced at tho
Times, left instructions for possible
callers, and then went to tho city. They
always took the same route; at eleven
they might he seen passing along the
sammy side Of Cannon street, at half past
one they entered the same restaurant, and
sat at the same table for luncheon. Wet
or dry, shade CT shine, summer or winter
every working day for thirty years they
had gone through tho same routine, al
ways excepting the month of September,
when they took their annual holiday.
They were elderly men: John, tall thin,
melancholy looking, with light gray eyes,
scanty gray hair and whiskers, and n
general expression OF drabness pervading
his whole face and faultlessly neat attire.
Roger vns shorter, rouuder, more cheer
ful, and generally warmer in color. His
perv3dinS hue was brown, keen reddish
eyes that must have been merry onoe,
crisp auburn hair that time had not vet
quite transmitted to silver. aclesn-shaved
ruddy face, and brown hands full of dents
and dimples.
John was tho 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 deferential; without any profes-
sion OF affection, or display of feeling, the
Gourlav Brothers dwelt together in
closest friendship and love; their life was
c long harmony, and during all the
years OF their partnership no shadow had
fallen between them, and their public life
was IS harmonious as their private inter
course. Ia business they were successful,
every speculation they made prospered,
everything they touched turned to gold;
ard - their whole lives were spent in
getting, not spending, they were believed,
and with reason, to be immensely
wealthy. Gold, hard, stern, enterpris-
ing" men called them; with an acute
ness of vision and 4 steadiness OF purpose
only to be acquired by long and close ap-
plicStion 20 business.
Reserved in manner, simple in their
tastes, economical in their habits, the
GOurlay Brothers were the last men in
tie world TO be suspected OF sentiment,
their lives the least likely to contain even
the germs Of \ romance. And yet they
Lad not been always mere business ma
. -. IL u. a 4 H.g-
lNt= ucs had not always been money. In
ca-lyye2rs they had had brighter dreams,
Eob!Cr ambitions.
~ school John had distinguished him
sc.;, and his brief university career gave
promise OF a brilliant future. Roger had
b-ca n bright, ardent boy, with taste
To- music thst was almosea passion and
: :sl-7t litJle short Of genius. With his
deep carnc-tness, intense steadineSs of
pJrpoJc, and clear vigorous intellect,
Joha could scarcely have failed TO mako
distinguished lawyer. Roger was 4 born
artist. With restless lofty ambition.
Liss seemed very, very bright for the
brothers; there was nothing TO prevent
snd everything to assist each in following
his inclination. But in the very dawn Of
their career their father died. and they
were suddenly reduced from affisence to
actual poverty.
Nothing remained from the wreck Of n
magnificent fortune but the bitter ex-
pcrience that always accompanies such
reverses. Fine friends failed them, fat
terers looked coldly on their distress.
those who had most frequently partRken
OF their lavish hospitality passed by on
the other side. Not a friend remained in
their adversely but one, and she had in
deed the will but not the power to help
them.
The boys left college and turned their
thoughts 10 business. 1t WAS hopeless to
attempt to follow mp their professions
with an invalid mOther and idolized only
sister depending on them for support.
John secured situation as clerk in city
warehouse. Roger accepted desk in the
Office OF Bernard Russell, an old friend of
his fathers. They moved to cheap lodg-
iEgs, and for several years plodded on
wearily, the only gleam of sunshine in
their altered home being the occasional
visits OF Alice Russell TO their sister.
Maudo Gourlay and Alice had been
schoolfellows and friends. they usually
spent their vacations togsther, and Alice
felt tho misfortune that had fallen on the
family "a IL it had taken her OWN. But
she could do nothing except pay them
flying visits, send trifing gifts OF fruit
and flowers, and write pretty, sympa-
thetic notes to Maude.
A few years Of hardship and poverty
told on Mrs. Gourlay's always feeble
frame, still for her daughters sake she
clung TO life with n strange tenacity; but
when Maude's lover, who had gone to
AustraliA TO make his fortune, returned,
not wealthy, tut sufficiently 50 to claim
his bride in her altered circumstances,
Mrs. Gouray seemed to have no other OBJ
ject to 1.-Two for.
Maude's marriage was hastened, and
tho very day after the ceremony, the
poor, weary, broken hearted mother died
George Leslie took his wife back with him
70 sydney, and John and Roger Gourlay
were literally alone in the world.
As il in bitter mockery OF their loss and
loneliness, Immediately after their moth
er's death the brothers inherited n small
fortune But it was too late for John to
20 back TO his studies, too late for Roger
% return 10 his piano; they had fallen into
he groove OF business, and John At least
was seized with a feverish eagerness 20
turn his small fortune into a larger one
snd become wealthy.
So they went into business on their own
account as GourlHy Brothers, with the
irm resolution Of retrieving tho position
heir father had lost, and n very few years
Wv them established at Whittier street,
>uj fairly on the high road 20 fortune.
Iaca one quiet summer evening, Hs they
rat ever their dessert, John opened MS
5gsrt 20 his brother and told him of his
hopes. dreams, and ambitions for the
future.
"Ycu will be surprised, and 1 trust
Hlea5 4 to slrar, that love Alice Russell"
Ne said, laying his hand on his brothers
arm; II can hardly remember the tims
when she was not cearer - me than al
the wsrid besides. The bittcrest art Of
our misfortune tome was that IL SEPARATED.
me from hsr; the only thing that has SUI
taincd me through our long struggle was
the hope Of some day winrin, her; moth
ing else can ever compensate me for Ia