The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-07-27
G0URLAY BROTHERS.

"Gourlay Brothers" engraved 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 footsteps,
and Eli Haggart, the clerk, was to all ap-
pearance the idlest man in London, till
one came TO know his masters.
The Gourlay Brothers We're never any
buster thau their faithful old servant
nCyc hurried, flurried or worried; never
late and never early. Every morning at
ten o'clock they entered their Office to-
gether, read their letters, glanced at the
Times, left instructions for possible
callers, and then went 10 the city. They
always took the same route; at eleven
they might he seen passing along the
sunny 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 or shine, summer or winter,
every working day for thirty years they
had gone through the 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 aud whiskers, and
general expression Of drabness pervading
his whole face and faultlessly neat attire
Roger was shorter, rounder, more cheer
iul, and generally warmer in color. His
pervading hue was brown, keen reddish
yes that must have been merry once,
srisp auburn hair that time had not vet
quite transmitted 10 silver. aclean- shaved
ruddy face, and brown hands full Of dents
and dimp!es.
John was the elder; still he looked up
20 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
40 less defereutial: without any profes-
sion Of affection, or display Of feeling, the
Gourlay Brothers dwelt together in
closest friendship and love: their life was
a long harmony, and during all the
wears of their partnership no shadow had
fallen between them, and their public life
was = > harmonious n their private inter
course. In business they were successful,
every speculation they made prospered,
everything they touched turned 10 gold;
and - theiT whole lives were spent in
getting, not spending, they were believed,
and with reason, TO be immensely
wealthy. cold, hard, stern, enterpris-
ing" men called them; with an acute
ness Of vision and n stesdiuess Of purpose
1uly 10 he acquired by long and close aP-
pIicatiuu 90 business.
Reserved in manner, simple in their
tastes, economical in their habits, the
Gourlay Brothers were the last men in
the world TO be suspected OF sentiment,
their lives the least likely TO contain even
the germs of a romance. And yet they
had not been always mere business ma
chimes, the sole aim and end of their ex-
i~teuca had not always been money. In
r1rlyyears they had had brighter dreams,
uohler ambitions.
At school John had distinguished him
self, and his brief university career gave
promise of brilliant future. Roger had
been bright, ardent boy, with a taste
FOR music that was almost passion, ar,i
4 talent little short Of genius, With his
deep earnestness, intense steadiuess of
purpose, aud clear vigorous intellect.
John could scarcely have failed 10 make
distinguished lawyer. Roger was born
artist. with a restless lofty ambition.
Life seemed very, very bright for the
brothers: there was nothing 10 prevent
and everything TO assist each in following
Ills inclination. But in the very dawn OF
their career their father died, and they
were suddenly reduced from afiluence TO
actual poverty.
Nothing remained from the wreck Of
magnificent fortune but the bitter ex-
ugTienCe tliAL always accompanies SUCH
-eyerses Fine friends failed them, fiat
tcrers looked coldly on their distress,
those who had most frequently partaken
Of their lavish hospitality passed by on
the other side. Not a friend remained in
their adversity but one, and she had in
deed the will but not the power to help
them.
The boys left college and turned their
thoughts 70 business. IL was hopeless to
attempt 10 follow mp their professions
with an invalid mother and idolized only
sister depending on them for support.
John secured a situation as clerk in n city
warehouse. Roger accepted desk in the
Office OF Bernard Russell, an old friend Of
his fathers. They moved to cheap lodg-
ings, and for several years plodded on
yyearily, the only gleam of sunshine in
their altered home being the occasional
visits OF Alice Russell to their sister.
Alaude Gourlay and Alice had been
scEoolfcllows and friends; they usually
spent their vacations together, and Alice
feitthe misfortune that had fallen on the
family rs IL il had taken her own. But
she could do nothing except pay them
flying visits, send trifing gifts of fruit
aud flowers, and write pretty, sympa-
tEetic notes 70 MaGde.
4 few years OF hardship and poverty
told on Mrs. Gourlay's always feeble
frame, still for her daughters sake she
cluug 20 life with a strange teuacity; but
when Maude's lover, who had gone to
Australia 10 make his fortune, returned,
not wealthy. but sufficiently so 10 claim
his bride in her altered circumstances,
Mrs. Gourlay seemed TO have no other OBJ
ject 70 live for.
Maude's marriage was fastened, and
the very day after the ceremony, the
door. weary, broken hearted mother died
George Leslie took his wife back with him
TO sydney, and John and Roger Gourlay
were literally alone in the world.
Asif in bstter mockery of their loss and
loneliness, Immediately after their moth
er's death the brothers inherited n small
fortune But il was too late for John to
70 back 70 his studies, too late for Roger
20 return TO his piano; they had falleninto
the groove of business, and John at least
was seized with a feverish eagerness to
turn his small fortune into IA larger one
and become wealthy.
So they went into business 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 at Whittier street,
and fairly on the high road 10 fortune.
Then one quiet summer evening, as they
sat over their dessert, John opened MS
heart 70 his brother and told him Of his
hopes, dreams, and ambitions for the
future.
''You will be surprised, and / trust
pleased TO hear, that love Alice Russell,
lie said, laying his hand on his brothers S
arm; II can hardly remember the time
when she was not dearer to me than all
the world besides. The bitterest Tsrt OF
our misfortune 10 me was thati separated
me from her, the only thing that has sus-
tanned me through our long struggle was
the hope of some dag winning her; moth
ing else can ever compensate me for the
ruin of all my hopes and glorious ambi-
tions. / once dreamed of being famous,
Roger; for her sake / put that bekind
me, and have grubbed for gold like q