West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1880-05-15
Under False Colors.

They were making a railroad from a GER
tain city to-no matter where Suffice il
that 1t was somewhere in that boundless
Out West, and it ran through a wild.
lndian-infested country, where fever and
ague, and raids from the savages were tin-
comfortably familiar evils. Among the
small army of employees was John Marshall
civil engineer, in charge of section in
one OF the widest portions of the line. But
he was young, fresh from college, and
hard work and terrors had no dangers for
him.
John Marshall sat one day in the rude log
hut which constituted his ''office. examin-
ing plans, making out acquisitions. etc,
when shadow across his paper caused him
to look up. In the doorway stood a boyish
fellow of apparently eighteen or twenty
with smooth face, fresh complexion, curly
hair, and somewhat eflieminate in form and
figure In response to Marshall's inauiring
look, he said: 81 have called upon you, sir,
hoping 10 get work"
well, we full Just now in the sec
ton, was the discouraging reply. "What
can you do?"
81 can write, keep ac cunts, or do some
thing of that kind better than anything
that"
81 see. You haven't been used TO very
hard work, as your hands show
mo, sir; but if you will only try me.
am sure you will find me willing. am
very anxious 10 get work"
"But what sent you to this outlandsh
place 10 find 1t Z"
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, be-
cause you don't seem qualified for severe
manual labor. l 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. ''lf you could only give me
board and lodging for few months would
gladly stay"
Very well. On those terms l engage
you. But what is your name?"
Frank Burroughs, sir,."
So Frank was engaged to assist John
Marshall. and he soon proved himself
valuable aid, Educated, quick, and ready.
he soon made himself indispensable In vari-
Gus ways.
Months passed. and that portion of the
railroad drew near completion. In the
meantime Frank and John had become fast
friends. They were inseparabe compan-
ions, anda deeper than ordinary liking
seemed to have sprung up between them.
Frank, said John Marshall one day,
"our section will be completed this week,
and then our employment here will be at
an end. What do you propose doing?"
II don't know, and the youth hung his
head sorrowfully
"As for me, continued John, 81 am 20
ing home for months vacation; and |
should be more than pleased to have you go
with me. In fact / must insist upon it, for
in spite OF your almost girlish ways-I
should be lost without your society"
Frank remained silent, seemngly oppress-
ed with sorrow of some kind.
"You don't seem in good spirits to-day.
said John, rallyingly.
''NO; | am very sad indeed"
"Will you tell me why2'
"lt would involve a long story, and a
confession; one that requires a sacrifice of
self respect 70 make"
"But we are friends"
''1es, and feel that you have "A right to
know. So listen with all the patience YOU
can. Away down IN one Of the lonely val
leys that dot our beautiful New York State.
situated near the head-waters of the Mo
hawk, there lived few years ago a man
named Lamport, with a family consisting
of wife and one child, girl. Mr.. Lam
port had once been a prominent merchant of
New York; but meeting with heavy losses
IN his business through wild spcculations.
be had sold out, and with the remnant of
his fortune had settled In the valley have
just mentioned. Here he resolved 20 begin
the world anew. Possessed of wife who
sympathized with him in all his trials. he
never despaired az 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 centered. Mr. Lamport had been at
his new vocation about three years, and
was In a fair way to retrieve the losses he
had met with ia his mercantile career.
The little valley was but a few miles
In length, and but little more than mile
i'm width, surrounded on all sides by HIGH
mountains, thiCkly wooded But few other
tamilies had their residences In the valley
The scarcity OF neighbOrs however did not
cause Mrs. Lamport TO have any vain long
ings for the society In which she had been
reared. Her nature was not of an ambi-
tious turn. While her family possessed
health, and the wolf was kept from the
door, she would never complain. but
would always be loving and fitting belp.
mate 10 her husband, Mr.. Iampoft was
fully conscious Of the treasure he Dos
sessed in his wife and they were happy i'm.
deed
''Ihus things went well for time; and
then calamity came Both Mr.. and Mrs.
Lamport suddenly died, leaving Fanny
alone, and almost penniless. Paralyzed
with grief the poor girl knew not what tC
do. The neighbors kindly came forward
TO assist her, and a hundred dollars in hcl
pocket she went 20 a relative in New York
"a widow lady named Plessley. She wa,
not a handsome woman; she was not par
tieularly rich; she was certainly ovei
thirty. Those who merely saw her won
dered at the immense popularity she enjoy