Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1855-11-08

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sC,SA WoxAx KEEP A SschEr-oE
now Ma. PnpxlS, Gor ins C"AT MsSDYD.
-" Pshaw a woman keep n secFct VIII"
eve knes on. 10 keep anything twenty
fur hour, ."
THAT. the libl upon the s'x, Mr. P'd-
kns--i;v ,ntcd, III be hound, b' sun"
thrice rejected bachelor, who could think oi
NJ mher mode OF revenge. Let anyhds
pma secret in my possession, and il can't
keep il I'LL the day OF Judgment 'h'n !
wa.at christencd Laura, that's ALL
'Gue,s I will try you sometime, aud
Podkins applied match to his sesnr and
walked ont
Proceeding to confcctioncr's, he pur-
chased u mammoth sugar heart aud two
smaller ones. These he took To hls shop,
and cut a piece OF shingle the exact size OF
the larger heart, and placed the wooden
counterfeit in the paper with III, smaller
ones, that tn, packages might look as near
alike as possible.
Nearly tea time Podkin, entered the sit
ting room where Laura and h,r friend Mary
were bu,ily plying their needles. Seating
himself near by, hs drew from his coat
pocket two small bundles, aad presenting
one to each Of the girls, remarked that he
had long contemplated making them some
presents, but hoped as especial favor to
himself that they wonld MT tell each other
what the paper contained. Laura and Mary
promised obedience the same time casting
uneasy glanccs at The mysterious gifts.
Remember, the first who breaks her
promise will forfeit her claim to the it'll, o!
secret keeper, and mend my coat by why
Of penalty aided Podkins, rlsiag to ex-
hibit more fully most sorrowful looking
garment, so tattsrcd and torn that tailor
would have been puzzled to decide what
WAS its original shape.
The girls considered themselves safe
concerning the ccat and chded tn arcr
for b,ing 80 skeptlcal in regard to thoir
ability 20 keep secret. Curiosity was only
half satisfied however, after asceriailing
,ha, Podkins' generosity had bestowed a
heart II was no, long before the daner
overheard Mary and Laura in the ki,ch n
teasing one another TO reveal, by some sign,
Ut least, the forbidden fruit But each stood
h"r ground wonderfully, anI podkns fear
cd That his coat would r,man tattered The
girls sleeping apar tnient vas contiguous
TO the one occupied BY Podkins and his
friend Barlow. AS only thin partition
separated the rooms, it was easy to hear
ordinary conversation from one To the other
without the folly Of listening. The two men
Were snugly cnsconsed in bed when Mary
and Laura entered the adjoining room.
The door ha ! scarcely b,en closed, when
the former exclaimed.
Now, Laura, do tell me what was in
your paper. Ii locked Just like IN ne, and |
verify believe it is the same thing. 81 Iall
not slerpa wink to night if you don't.
Come. do tell, that's good girl, and then l
WI tell YOU what was in mine
Well replied Laura, 4" there were two
sugar h'ar,s in mine
And there were only one in mine said
Mary, in disappointed tone.
At this point respectable portion of the
bolster wen, into Bailow's mou,h, while
Podkns took refuge beneath the bed clothes
to smother his laughter a. best he might.
At breakfast the next morning, while
Laura was pouring OIL, the coffee, Podkns
turning towards Barlow, said very grave
iy:-
Well there were two sugar hearts in
nine
And there was only one in mine re.
spondcd Barow,so exactly Initiating. Mary.
sono that she almost fancicd herself speak.
ing.
The coffee po. dropped 10 the great con.
fusion OF sundry cups and sauccrs, and
then come burst Of laughter from The iour
th,t fairly made the dishes dance.
i will take that coat after breakfast, il
you please, Mr. Podkns, said Laura, quiet
ly, after the mrtl had somewhat subsided.