Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1860-11-24
Romantic Career of an Eccentric Girl.


startled by the announcement, in the daily
journals, OF what was supposed, at the time,
to be fearful tragedy, In which young and
beautiful girl was believed to have been car
ried 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 "Desdemona," or what was more
shocking still had been compelled, in her dis.
grace, to barter virtue for life. Her parents,
who were we'll advanced iu years, gradually
sunk beneath the terrible calamity, until
they became living personifcations OF settled
melancholy and despair
Numerous circumstances had led them ir.
resitibly to this conclusions; and on the night
Of her departure, policemen had heard the
smotheriug shrieks of q female 10 the vicinity
OF her parents residence but before they
reached the spot all was silent; neighbors,
too, had heard mysterious noises, and OBJ.
served dark figures beneath the ladys win
dow; but, strange as it may appear, they did
not think to raise the alarm. or even speak OF
the matter, unti her absence was discovered;
but afterwards there was such marked siml-
larity in their stories that there was no room
TO doubt their truth Besides If she had
simply eloped with lover, and been legally
Of her whereabouts, and ascertained from
them whether they approved or disapproved
the course she had taken, before she had cut
them off forever. Nor was this all. Her
lover, the man to whom she was supposed to
have been betro:bed, still remained, and
evinced distress as deep, if not as lasting
as that OF the parents. Under such circum-
stances, the conclusion that she had been
forcibly abducted appeared necessarily TO
follow.
About the same time young man, or "a.
ther boy, named Frank Bates, of light sta.
ture, but with rosy cheeks, smiling face; ready
step and winning demeaDor, engaged 10 the
service OF river captain as a cabin boy, and
by his promptness and righteousness so ingra.
tiated himself into the good will Of his patron,
that he was elevated to an assistant clerksbip,
positiOn for which his education and activity
eminently qualified him. lie remained 90
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 atiability did not fail to draw to-
ward himself numerous friends, and among
the fair bellies of the Bluffs he was the I'D.
mired Of all admirers, and his employers
store was soon discovered by all OF them TO
be the best 10 the village, and Frank was
ever Iy"uele up ppIuuued US tue Uost dBTteuoie
Of clerks. When be attended parties aud
places of amusement be was always assigned
the post Of honor, and it must be confessed
tha: no other young man in the vicinity could
ill the station with such perfect ease and
grace as could our young hero.
1t would be useless, however, to trace bis
history during the two years he remained at
Council Bluffs nor to chronicle the oft raised
hopes aud repeated disappointments by his
female admirers-tbey 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 80 happened 10 this case, About three
weeks ago. at u 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 neighborhood. At
this uDlucky mishap, Frank" revealed name
aud parentage, a. the same time coolly re.
questing to be retained in his employers
service, promising to draw around the place
of business two male patrons for every fe.
male repulsed, but whether or not he was
allowed TO remain, we are unable TO soy.