The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1855-12-08
Can Women Keep a Secret :

on, HOW Mr.. PODKINs GOT HIS COAr MENpgp, q,
APshaw a woman keep q secret? Who
even knew one to keep anything twenty-four
hours2" W a7, 80,
"Thats libel upon the sex, Mr. Podkins-
invented, I'll be bound, by some thrice rejected
bachelor, who could think Of no other mode Of
revenge Let anybody put q secret in my pos
session, and if can't keep it till the day Of
Judgment, then wasn't christened Laura
that's ALL" -l".& -u ~
"Guess I'll try-you sometime, and Podkins
applies match to his segar and walked out.
Proceeding to confectioner's be purchased
mammoth sugar heart and two smaller ones.
This he took to his shop, and cut piece of
shingle the exact size of the larger heart, and
placed the wooden counterfeit in paper with
the small ones, that the packages might look
as near alike as possible.
Nearly tea time Podkins entered the sitting.
room where Laura and her friend Mary were
busy plying their needles. Seating himself
near by, he drew from his coat pocket two
small bundles and presenting one to each Of the
girls remarked that he had long contemplated
making them some presents, but hoped as an
especial favor to himself that they would not
tell each other what the paper contained.
Laura and Mary promised obedience, at the
same time casting uneasy glances at the mys-
terious gifts.
Remember the first who breaks her promise
will forfeit her claim to the title Of secretkeeper,
and mend my coat by way of penalty, !" added
Podkins, rising to exhibit more fully most
sorrowful looking garment SO " tattered and
torn" that tailor would have been puzzled to
decide what was its original shape
The pirls considered fhnmseune co fa ooroorr
ing the coat, and chided the wearer for being
so sceptical in regard to their ability to keep q
secret. Curiosity was only half satisfied, how
ever, after ascertaining that Podkins' generos-
ty had bestowed heart 1t was not long ere
the donor overheard Mary and Laura in the
kitchen, teasing one another to reveal by some
sign, at least the forbidden fruit. But each
stood her ground wonderfully, and Podkins
feared his coat would remain tattered. The
girls sleeping apartment was contiguous to
the one occupied by Podkins and his friend
Barlow. AS only thin partition separated
versation from on to the other without the folly
OF listening. The two men were snugly Ell
sconced in bed, when Mary and Laura entered
the adjoining bedroom. The door had scarcely
been closed when the former exclaimed.
AVN, A4auiu w tcll Llo Wudt was IN your
paper. 1t looked just like mine, and 1 verify
believe it is the same thing. shall not sleep
o wink tonight if you don't. Come, do tell,
that's good girl, and then will tell you what
"Well," replied Laura, al there were two
sugar hearts in mine."
And there was only one in mine," said
Mary, in disappointed tone.
AT this point respectable portion of the
bolster went into Barlow's mouth, while Pod
klns took refuge beneath the bedclothes, to
smother his laughter as best he might.
AT breakfast the next morning, while Laura
was pouring out the coffee, Podkins, turning
toward Barlow, said very gravely:
swell, there were two sugar hearts in mine. "
-" And there was only one in mine" respon-
ded Barlow, SO exactly initiating Mary's tone.
that she fancied herself speaking.
The coffee pot dropped, to the great confu-
SION Of sundry cups and saucers, and then came
burst Of laughter from the four that fairly
made the dishes dance.
II will take that coat after breakfast, if you
please, Mr.. Podkins," said Laura, quietly, after
the mirth had somewhat subsided. ,...