Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1860-12-21
vATERTOWN REPUBLICAN.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 81, 1850.
From the Council Bluffs Eagle.
Romantic Career of an Eccentric Glrl-

y
was startled by the announcement, in the
daily journals, of what was supposed at
the time to be a fearful tragedy, in which
young and beautiful girl was 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 brief space,
either experienced the fate of ''Desdemo-
ma, or, what was more shocking still, had
been compelled, in her disgrace, to barter
virtue for life Her parents, who were
well advanced in years, gradually sunk be-
meath the terrible calamity, until they be-
came living personiications Of settled mel
ancholy aud deep despair.
Numerous circumstances had led them
irresistibIy to the conclusion; and on the
night of her departure policemen mad
hea d the smothered shricks of a female,
in the vicinity of her parents residence
but before they reached the spot all was
silent; neighbors, too, had heard mysteri-
Gus noises, and obs rived dark figures be-
meath 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 af-
forwards there was such marked similari-
ty in their stories, that there was no room
to doubt their truth.
Besides, if she had simply eloped wish
lover, and been legally married, she
would have informed her parents of her
Whereabouts, and ascertalned from them
whether they approved or disapproved the
course she had taken, before she cut them
off forever Nor was this all; her lover.
the man to whom she was supposed to
have been betrothed, still renamed, and
eyinced distress as deep, if not as lasting,
as that OF the parents. Under such cir
cumstances, the conclusion that she had
been forcibly abducted, appears necessarl-
ly to follow.
About the same time, young man, or
rather boy, named Frank Bates, of
slight stature but with rosy cheeks, smi-
ling face, ready step, and winning demean-
or, engaged in the service of river cap
tain as cabin-boy, and by his promptness
and righteousness SO ingratiated himself
unto the good will of his patron that he
was elevated to an assistant clerkship, a
position for which his education and &C.
tlVity eminently qualified him. He re-
manned on the boat in this capacity for
about two years, when he went to Council
Bluffs. Iowa, and engaged as clerk in a dry
goods store. Here his ability did not fail
to draw towards himself numerous friends,
and among the fair bellies of the Bluffs he
81, e II
employers store was soon discovered by all
of them to be the best in the village, and
Frank was everywhere applauded as the
most agreeable of clerks. When he at
tended parties and places of amusement,
he was always assigned the place of
honor, aid it must be confessed that no
other 70 nng man in the vicinity could fill
the sat on with such perfect ease and
grace al could our hero
1t wot ld be useless, however. to trace
his history during the two years he re-
manned at Council Bluffs, or to chronicle
the ott-raised hopes and repeated disap-
pointments of his female admirers, they
will suggest themselves to the read
er. 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
how the paper that relates the facts nara
ted above, does not state>-to be female,
much to the chagrin of all the fair Sex, and
to the scandal of the neighborhood At
this unlucky mshap, Frank" revealed
name and parentage, at the same time on
~ requested to be retained in his en-
ployars service, promising to draw around
the place of business two male patrons for
every female repulsed, but whether or not
be was allowed to remain we are unable to
say.