The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-03-11
"CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET p,

GAN YOU KEEP A SECRET p
.. =" Dorothy" said IrhaEod, pale and trem-
bling, to his wife, Dorothy, have a Sc
cret and II l thought you would keep it
| invlolable, would not hesitate TO reveal it
to You: but oh, Dorothy, woman"
"Why, lchabod, it must certainly he 3
secret OF great Importance, for you are in a
woful agitation. You know, husband, YOU
can place implicit confidence in your wife.
Have ever given you occasion to doubt
my fidelity ?"
" Never, never, Dorothy; but the secret
have to communicate is one that requires
more than ordinary faithfulness and pru-
dence to prevent you from divulging it. Oh
dear l shudder when ! think ont %
"Why, husband, do you know how your
lips tremhle, and your eyes roll? What is
the matter? lchabod you surely cannot
mlstrust the confidence of one who vowed
at the altar to he faithful to you Come,
unboSom yourself"
May | rely upon your fdelity?"
" lchabod, you know You may"
swell, then,-we are both to he ruin
ed!-undone II have committed murder -
"Murder"
"Yes, murder and have buried him at
the foot Of tree in the orchard ="
:" Oh !! awful chabod-conlmitted muir
der! Then, indeed, we are ruined, and
our children with us!"
lchabod left the room, and Dorothy bur-
rled off to her neighbours. Mrs. Prattle OBJ
served great change in Dol oihy's counte-
nance; so great as to cause her to inquire
into the canse of it.
cob! Mrs Prattle," said Dorothy. q
am the most miserable of women II am
ruined for ever !'
" Mercy Dorothy, how gloomy you look /!
What has turned up to make You look so
d 1 efi hs inc Why, how you sigh! woman.
:" wish | might, MIS-. Prattle; but the
occasion of my unhappiness IS secret
which am not permitted to divnlge."
"Oh, you may tell me, Dorothy-I shall
never speak of it again"
"Will you promise never to reveal 1t to
any person living"
You know, Dorothy, never tell Sc
crcts."
swell Mrs. Prattle-I scarcely dare say
tiny husband has committed murder, and
buried him at the foot of tree in the orch
ard HE told me of it himself. For Heav-
ems sake don't name it to any one!"
Murder !--youT husband committed muir
der.-indeed,indeed, Dorothy, you have rea-
son to think yourself ruined Poor thing |!
pity you from the bottom of my heart %
Dorothy went home weeping and wiring
ing her hands: and Mrs Prattle. leaving
her dough half kneaded, and her infant cry
ing in the cradle, fastened to hold tete-a-
tete with Mrs. Tellall. Soon after this last
confab was ended, the report of Ichahod's
having committed murder became general.
and the disclosure of the fact was traced
to his wife Dorothy. Process was immedi-
ately issued agains; him by magistrate.
before whom, and in the presence ola multi
tude of anxious spectators, he gave the fol-
lowing explanation.
"My object" said Ichabod, ain the
course have pursued, was to test my wife's
capahity of keeping a secret have COM
mtted murder inasmuch as | killed a toad,
and buried it at the foot of tree in nv
own orchard. How far my wife is capable
of keeping a secret, has been sufficiently
pioved-and with respect to the murder.
those who feel an interest in it, are at lib
city TO inspect the ody."-HeSperuS.