Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-11-15
rrnm Inc cnnncil RInn. Enrle.

Four YEARS MASQUERADE OF AN ECcEN-
TRIO GIRL.-Abuut four years since our COM
munty was started by the announcement in
the daily journals of what was supposed, at
the time, to be fearful tragedy, iii which a
young and beautiful girl was believed TO have
been carried ofiby some wretch; and as nothing
had been heard from her, little dc ubt was en-
tertaiued by her friends that she had, after
brict space, either experienced the fate OF 'Des
demOna, or what was more shocking still, mad
been compelled, in her disgrace, to barter vlr
tue for lite. Her parents, who were wen au-
vanced in years, gradually sunk beneath the
terrible calamity, until they became ivlng per
qualifications OF settled melancholy anu ueep
despair.
Numerous circumstances had led them ire
sislibiy to this conclusion; ana on the night
Of her departure policemen had heard the
smothered shiieks Of a female i'll the vicinity
of parents residence; but before they reached
the spot oil was silent; neghbors, too, had
heard mysterious noises, and observed dark
figures beneath the lady's window, but, strange
as it may appear, they did not think to raise
the ALARM or even speak OF the matter until
her absence was discovered; but afterwards
there was sue. marked similarity in their
stories, that there was no room to doubt their
truth Besides, il she had simply eloped with
a lover, and been legally married, she would
have Informed her parents of her wherea-
bouts, and ascertained from them whether they
approved or disapproved the course she had
taken, before she put them of forever. Nor
was this all her lover, the man to whom she
was supposed to have been betrothcd still re.
manned, and eYinced distress as deep, il not
as lasting, as that of the parents. Under such
circumstances, the conclusion that she had
been torcibly abducted appeared necessarily
to follow.
About the same time young man, or rather
boy, named Frank Bates of slight stature, but
with rosy checks, smiling face, ready step, and
winning demeanor, engaged in the service OF
river captain as a cabin boy, and by hla
promptness and righteousness so ingratiated
himself into the good will OF his patron, that
he was elevated 10 an assistant cerkship,
position for which his education and activity
eminently qualified him. He remained on the
boat in this capacity for abouttwo years, when
he went to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and engaged
as clerk in dry goods store. Here his atla-
bllity did not fail 10 draw towards himself nu-
mer0us friends, and among the fair bellies Of
the Bluffs he was the admired of all admirers,
and his employers store was soon discovered
bp them TO be the best in the village, and
Frank was everywhere applauded us the most
agreeable Of clerks When he attended par
ties and places of amusement, he was always
assigned the post OF honor, and it must be con
teSsed that TO other young man in the vicinity
could Till the station with such perfect ease and
grace as could our hero.
1t would be useless, however, to trace his
history during the two years he remained at
Council Bluffs, and to chronicle the oft raised
hopes and repeated disappointmcnts by his
female admirers they will readily suggest
themselves to the reader. But in the midst
OF life there is death the glory Of victory is
often succeeded by disgrace and defeat, and it
SO happened in this case, About three weeks
ago, at a.masquerade, Frank was discovered
chow the paper that relates the facts narrated
above does not state) to be female, much to
the chagrin Of all the fair SEX and 10 the
scandal of the neghborhood. AT this unlIcky
mishap, Frank" revealed name and parent
aye, at the same time coolIy requesting to be
retained in his employers service, promising
t. draw around the place of business two
male patrons for every female repulsed, but
whether or not he was allowed to remain we
are unable to say.