Year: 1861

About four years since our community
was 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 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 Ell
ther experienced the fate of I" Desdemona."
or, what was more shocking sill, had been
compelled, in her disgrace, 10 barter virtue
for life. Her parents, who were well ad-
vanced in years, gradually sunk beneath
the terrible calamity until they became liv-
ing personifications of settled despair
! Numerous circumstances had led them
irresistibly 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 the 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 afterward
there was such marked similarity in their
stories that there wac no room to doubt
their truth.


Besides, if she had simply eloped with
a lover, and been legally married, she would
have informed her parents of her where
abouts, and ascertained from them whether
they approved or disapproved the course
she had taken, before she cut them off for
ever. Nor was this all her lover, the man
to whom she was supposed TO have been be-
tress as deep, if not as lasting, as that Of
her parents. Under such circumstances
the conclusion that she had been forcibly
abducted appeared necessarily TO follow.


About the same time young man. or
rather boy, named Frank Bates, of slight
stature, but with rosy cheeks, smiling face,
ready step, and winning demeanor, engaged
In the service of a river captain as cabin
boy, and by his promptness and ingenious
ness SO ingratlated himself into the good
will of his patron, that he was elevated to
an assistant clerkship, positiol for which
his education and activity emnently quail
fled him. He remained on the boat in this
capacity for about two years, when he





as clerk in dry goods store. Here his
affability did not fail to draw towards him.
self 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 in the village, and Frank was every
! where applauded as the most agreeable OF
clerks. When he attended par les and
places of amusement, he was always as
signed the post of honor, and it must be
confessed that no other young man in that
! vicinity could fill the station with such per
feet ease and grace as could our hero.


1t would be useless, however, to trace
his history during the two years he remain.
ed at Council Bluffs, or to chronicle the of
raised hopes and repeated disappointment.
of his female admirers-they will readily
suggest themselves to the reader. But in
the midst of life there is death-ihe glory
of victory is often succeeded by disgrace
aud defeat, and it SO happened in this case.
Abont three weeks ago, at masquerade
" Frank was discovered--how, the paper
that relates the facts narrated above, does
not state--io be a female, much to the cha
: grin of all the fair sex, and TO the scandal
Of the neighborhood. At this unucky ms
hap /" Frank revealed name and parent.
age, at the same time coolly requesting &c
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 to say Council Bi,.f;
Eagle.