The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1860-11-17

COMEDY.
Frou the councsi B.rss Eagle.
About four years since our community
was startled BY the announcement, IN the
daily journals, Of what vas supposed, at
the time, TO be fearful tragedy. IN which
young and beautiful girl vas believed to
have been carried away BY some wretch
and as nothing had since been heard from
her, little doubt was entertained BY her
friends that she had, after a brief space,
either experienced sbe fate Of 'Desdemonia,'
or what was more shocking still, had been
compelled. in her disgrace, to barter virtue
for life. Her parents, whs were well ad-
vareej in years, gradually sunk beneath
the terrible calamity, until they became iiv-
ing personiications Of settled melancholy
and deep despair.
Numerous circumstances had led them
irresis,ibly to this conclusion and on the
night of her departure policemen had heard
the smothered shrieks of female, IN the
vicinity Of her parents residence but be-
fore they reached the spot all was silent,
neighbors, too, had heard MYSTERIOUS noises,
and observed dark figures beneath the lady's
window; but strange as ii 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 such marked similarity in their
stories, that there was no room to doubt
their truth. Besides, If she bad simply
sioped with lover, and been legally mar
ried, che would have informed Der parents
of her whereabouts, and ascertained from
them whether they approved or disapproyed
the course she had saken, before she cut
them off forever. Nor was this all; her
lover, the man whom she was supposed to
have been betrothei, still remained, and
eyinced distress as deep, il not as lasting,
as that of the parents. Under sueh cir
cumstanees. the conclusion that she had been
foreibiy abducted appeared necessary TO
fellow.
About the same time q young man, or
rather boy, named Frank Bates, of slight
stature, but with rosy checks, smiling face,
ready step, aud winning demeaaor, engaged
in the service of river captain as a cabin
boy, and by his pFemptaess and Ingenious
ness so iuZsatated himself into the good
will of his patron, that be was elevated to
IN assistant eletkship, position for which
his education aud activity eminently quail
fed him. lie remained on the boat in this
capacity for about two years, when he went
clerk in dry goods store. Here his aiIa-
bility did not fail to draw toward himself
numerous friends. and among the fair
bellies of the Bluffs he was the admired of
all admirers, and his employers store was
soon discovered by all of them to be the
best 10 the village, and Frank was every
where appiauded as the most agreeable Of
clerks. When he attended parties and
places Of amusement be was always assigned
the post of honor, and it must be con-
fassed that no other young man in the vicinity
could I'll the station with such perfect ease
and grace as could our hero.
Ii would be useless. however, to trace his
history during the two years he remained
ut Council Bluffs, nor TO chronicle the Oft
raised hopes and repeated disappointments
by his female admirers-they will readily
suggest themselves to the reader. But in
the midst of life there is 1ath-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--ho the paper
that relates the facts narrated above, does
not state--to be female, much to the
ohagrin of all the fair sex, and to the sean
dial of the neighborhood. At this unlucky
mlshap, "Frank" reve lied name and parent
age, at the same time coolly requesting to
be retained in his employers service, prom
ising to draw around the place of business
two male patrons for every female repulsed,
but whether or not he was allowed to re-
main, we are unable say.