The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-01-15
UNDER FALSE COLORS.

UNDER FALSE COLORS.
They were making II railroad from a
certain city to-no matter where.
Suffice it that it was somewhere in that
boundless "Out West, and it ran
through wild, Indian-infested country
where fever and ague and raids from
the savagCs were uncOmfortably
familiar evils. Among the small army
of employees was John Marshall, a civil
engineer, in charge of n section in one
of the widest portions of the line, but
he was young, fresh from college, and
hard work and danger had no terrors
for him.
John Marshall sat one day in the
rude log hut which constituted his
"officc, examining plans, making out
requisitions. etc, when a shadow
across his paper caused him to look up.
In the doorway stood Il boyish fellow
of apparently eighteen or twenty, with
smooth face, fresh complexion, curly
hair and somewhat eifeminate in form
and feature. In response to Marshal's
inquiring look, he said, II have called
upon YOU, sir, hoping TO get work.
'.WeII, we are full just now in this
section" was the di>couraging reply.
What can you dO?n
Il can write. keep accounts or do
some thing of that kind better than
anything else; but l will do anything
that"
Il 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 to get work.
But what sent you to this outland-
ish place to find it?'
The young man colored but made no
reply.
We'll" continued Marshall, .'of
course that's your own affair, not mine.
| cant offer YOU anything in the way
of work, because YOU don't seem quail
fled for severe manual labor. want
clerk--an assiStant-badly enough;
but the company wouldn't pay you if |
should engage YOU"
That doesn't natter said the
Young applicant. ii you could only
give me board aud lodging for Il few
months would gladly stay"
Very well. On those terms | en-
9dLC you, biL w ltsii 10 YOUR
Frank Burrough. sir"
So Frank was engaged TO assist John
Marshall and he. soon proved himself
valuable aid. Educated, quick and
ready, ne soon made himself almost in
dispensable in various ways.
Frank, said John Marshall one
day, our section will be completed
this week, aud then our employment
here will be ut an end. What do you
propose doing?"
Il don't know and the youth hung
his head sorrowfully.
AS for me-" continued John. Il am
going home for Il months vacation.
and should he more than pleased to
have YOU 20 with me. In fact, | insiat
upon it, form spite of your almost
girlish wavs-I should be lost without
your society"
Frank remained silent, seemingly
oppressed with a sorrow of some kind.
You don't seem in good spirits to-
day" said John, rallvingly.
No; | am very sad, indeed"
"WilI you tell me why?'
1T wOuld involve Il long story and a
confession. one that requires a sacrifice
of Self-respect to make"
But we are friends"
Yes: and | feel that you have n
right to know. So listen with all the
patience you can. Away down in one
of the lonely valleys that dot our
beautiful New York State, situated
near the head waters of the Mohawk.
there lived few years ago Il man
named Lamport. with family con-
sistiug of wife and one child, girl.
Mr.. Lamport had once been Il promi-
ncnt merchant in New York. but meet
ING with heavy losses in his business
through wild speculations, he had sold
out, and with the remnant of his for
tune had settled in the valley | have
just mentioned. Here he resolved to
begin the world anew. Possessed of a
wife who sympathized with him in all
his trials. he never despaired as many
might have done.
but one child had blessed their
union, little Fanny. ut this time about
IL years of age. In her all the parents
love was centered. Mr.. Lamport had
! been ut his new vocation about three
| years. and was in 4 fair way to retrieve
/ the losses he had met with i'll his mer-
! camille career.
! Things went we'll for time, and
( then calamity came. Both Mr.. aud
Mrs. Lamport suddenly died leaving
! Fanny alone and almost pennilesS.
/ Paralyzed with grief the poor girl
/ knew not what to do. The neighbors
I kindly came forward to assist her;
/ and with 500 in her pocket she went
/ TO a relative in New York--a widow
/ lady named PlesSley. She was not a
! handsome woman; she was not par
! ticularly rich. she WAS certainly over
! so. Those who merely saw her Won
dered ut the immense popularity she
/ enjoyed; but those who knew her inti-
mateIy, perfectly understood her
/ destinations. Mrs. Plessley possessed
most brilliant, intellect, spoke several
languages. had read everything that
was % be read, and could talk on any
subject in the world from the most
| abstruse theological. creed to the light
est pirouette of a Black Crook dance.
She was the most amusing woman in
| New York. Her conversation was like
the coruscations of brilliant fireworks,
80 dazzling that it was almost impossi-
hle to analvze it: but those who had