Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-11-30
From the Council Bluffs Eagle.]
gsoEaaa ntfc Career 0Esasa Eccentric
Girl.

About four years since our community
was startled by the announcement, in the
daily journals, of what was supposed at the
time to be a fearful tragedy, III which a
young and beautiful girl was believed to have
been carried away by some wretch, and as
nothing mad since been heard from her, lit
tie doubt was entertained by her friends shat
she had, after a brief space, either experien-
ced the fate Of ''Desdemona," or, what was
more shocking still. had been compelled. in
her disgrace, to balses: s-irtue for life Her
parents, who were we'll advanced in years,
gradually sunk beneath the terrible calami-
ty, until they became living personifcations
Of settled melancholy and deep despair.
Numerous circumstances had led them ir-
resistibly to this conclusion; and on the light
Of her departure policemen had heard the
smothered shrieks Of female, in the vicini~
ty of her parents residence; but before they
reached the spot all was silent; neighbors,
too, had heard mysterious noisee, and obser-
we'd 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 afterward there was such marked SINH
larity in their stories, that there was no room
to doubt their truth.
Besides, if she had simply eloped with a
lover, and been legally married, she would
have informed ner parents of her wherea-
bouts, and ascertained from them whether
they approved or disapproved the course she
had taken, before she cut them oil forever
Nor was this all, her lover, the man to whom
she was supposed to have been betrothed,
still remained, and eyinced distress as
deep,if not as lasting, as that Of the parents
Under such circumstances, the conclusion
that she had been forcibly abducted, APP
peared 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 steps, and winning demeanor, enga-
ged IN the service Of river captain as
cabin boy, and by his promptness and inge-
niousness SO iugratiated himself into the
good will of his patron, that he was elevated
to an assistant clerkship, aposition for which
his education and activity eminentiy quail
fed him. He remained Oh the boat in this
capacity for about two years, when he went
to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and engaged as
clerk in dry goods store. Here his abili-
ty did not fail to draw toward himself nu-
merous friends, and among tsae fair bellies of
the Bluffs he was the admired Of all admi-
rers, and bis employers store was soon dis
covered bv all of them to be the best in the
village, and Frank was everywhere applau
ded as the most agreeable Of clerks. When
he attended parties aud places of amuse-
ment, he was always assigned the place Of
honor. and it must be confessed that no 9TH
er young man in The vicinity could I'll the
station with such perfect ease and grace as
could our hero.
It would be useless, however, to trace bis
history during the two years he remained at
Council Bluffs, or to chronicle the Oft raised
hopes and repeated disappointments of his
female admirers--they will readily suggest
themselves TO tie 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 masquerade, Frank !
was discovered how the paper that relates
the facts narrated above, does not state to
be female, much to the chagrin of all the
fair sex, and to the scandal Of the neighbor-
hood. At this unlucky mishap, Frank
revealed name and parentage, at the same
line cooly requested to be retained in his
employers service, promising to draw around
he place of business two male patrons for
every female repulsed, but whether or not
ne was allowed to remain we are unable to
az.
A vicious horse kicked a horse jockey who
wished him il h-ll sBetter wish him
else said the planter, "or he
hay hit you again