Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-05-14
UNDER FALSE COLORS

They were making railroad from I
oertain CITY to--no matter where. SUI
flee il WIS somewhere IN that boundlesl
tout west" and il ran through IL wild
Indian.fested country, where fever anc
ague, and raids from the savages wer,
uncomfortably familiar evils. Among
the small army of employees was Johr
Marshal, a civil engineer, in charge o
section in one OF the widest portions
of the hne. But he was young, fresh
from college, and hard work and ter
rors had no danger for him.
John Marshall sat one day ia tho
log hut which constituted his "ofiice'
examining plans, making out requisi
tions etc, when shadow across his
paper cau'ed himto look up. IN the
doorway stood boyish fellow OF mp
parently eighteen or twenty with smooth
face, fresh complexion, curly hair, and
somewhat eileminate IN form and fig
ure. In response to Marshalps inquir.
ing look, he Said 81 have called on
you hoping 10 get work"
"Well, we are full just now in the sec
ton" was the discouraging reply.
what can you uoI
81 can write keep accounts, or do
something of that kind better than any
thing else hut will do anything"
81 see. You haven't been used TO
very hard work, as your hands show"
mo, sir, but If you will only try me,
nm very anxious to get work."
"But what sent you To this outland-
ish place to find ilP"
The young man colored but made
no reply.
"Well," continued Marshall, "of
course that's your own affair not mine.
/ can't offer you anything in the way OF
work, because you don't seem qualified
for severe manual labor ! want clerk
an assistant-bad enough; but the
company wouldn't pay you If should
engage YOU
THAT doesn't matter said the young
applicant. III you could only give mo
board and lodging for II few months |
would gladly stay
every wen. On those terms en-.
gage you. But what il your name%
Crank Burroughs, sir"
$50 Frank was engaged to assist John
Marshall, and he soon proved himself
valuable MD. Educated, quick, ind
ready no soon made himself indispensa-
BILE in various ways"
Months passed, and that portion Of
the railroad drew near completion. In
tho meantime Frank and John had be-
come fast friends. They were INSOFAR.
able companions, and deeper than or
binary liking seemed to have sprung
up between them.
Frank" said John Marshall one day,
tour section will be completed this
week and then our employment here
will he ut an end. What do you pro-
pose doingg'
81 don't know" and tho youth hung
his head sorrowiully.
AS for me-" continued John, II am
going home for months vacation,
and thould be more than pleased to
have you go with me. In fact | must
insist upon il, form spite Of your al
most girlish ways-l should bo lost with
out your society"
Frank remained silent, seemingly
oppressed with n sorrow of some kind.
you don't seem in good spirits to-
day. said John rallying.
mo: am very sad indeed"
"Will you tell mo whyY"
1T would involve long story. and n
confession; one that requires sacrifice
Of sef.respect to make
but we are friends"
"Yes, and feel that you have right
to know. Sc listen with all the patience
you can. Away down in one of the
lonely valleys that dot our beautiful
Now York State, situated near the head.
waters Of the Mohawk, there lived few
years ago man by the name OF Lam.
port, with n family consisting y wife
and one child, a girl. Mr.. Lamporl
had once been prominent merchant
Of New York; but meeting with heavy
losses in his business through wild spec.
uation, he had sold out, and with the
remnant OF his fortune had settled in
the valley have just mentioned. Here
he resolved to begin the world anew,
Possessed Of u wife who sympathEed
with him in all his trials, he never des-
paired as many might have done.
But one child had blessed their
union, little Fanny, at this time about
eleven years OF age. In her, all the
parents love was conferred. Mr.. Lam.
port had been nj his new vocation about
three years, and was in fair way to re-
trieve the losses he had met with III his
mercantile career.
"rhe little valley WAS but few miles
in length, but little more than mile
in width, surrounded on all sides by
nigh mountains, thickly wooded. But
few other families had their residence
in the valley. The scarcity Of neighbors,
however, did not cause Mrs. Lamport to
nave any vain longings for the society
IN which she had been reared. Her
nature was not of an ambitious turn
While her family possessed health, and
the wolf was kept from the door, she