The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1878-06-22
FemInIneg Fidelity.
row A WOMAN KEEPS A SECRET.

Dorothy" said Ichabod, pale and |
trembling, to his wife; dorothy, lhave
q secret; and, II l thought you would
keep 1t inyiolate, l would not hesitate
to reveal it to you; but, oh, Dorothy,
woman ="
"Why, Ichabod, It must certainly be
q secret of great Importance, for you
are in woful agitation. You know,
husband, you can place implicit conf
dence In your wife. Have 1 ever CIV
en- you occasion to doubt my fidelity 2"
"Never, never, Dorothy; but the Sc
cret / have to communicate Is one that
requires more than ordinary faithful
ness and prudence to prevent you from
divulging 1t. oh, dear, shudder when
/ think on'tr'
"Why, husband. do you know how
your lips tremble and your eyes roll?
What Is the matter7 1chabod you
surely cannot mistrust the confidence of
one who vowed at the altar to be faith
full to you. Come, uubosom yourself"
"May rely on your idelity?"
"Ichabod, you know you may"
"Well, then, we are both rulnedi-
undone2- have committed murderl"
"Murderp'
"Yes, murderi-and have buried
him at the foot OF q tree In the Or
chardl'
"Oh, awful Ichabodi Committed
murderi Then indeed we are ruined
and our children with usi'
Ichabod left the room, and Dorothy
hurried off to a neighbor's. Mrs. Frat
tie observed aehsnge in Dorothy's coun'
tenance, and in her general appear.
ance-so great as to induce her to !a-
Quire the cause Of 1t.
"Oh, Mrs. Prsttle," said Dorothy,
al am the most miserable woman! am
rulned foreverl"
"Mercy, Dorothy, how gloomy and
distressed you lookl What has turned
up to make you appear SO detected =?
Why, how you sigh, womanl Tell me
the cause"
"I wish 1 might, Mrs. Prattlei but
the occasion Of my unhappiuess is Sc
cret which l am not permitted to d.
vulge."
"oh, you may tell me, Dorothy; l
shall never speak OF 1t again."
"Will you promise never to reveal 1t
to any person livingP"
"You know. Dorothy, never tell
secrets"
"Well, Mrs. Prattle-I scarcely dare
say Tiny husband has committed muir
der, and buried him at the foot OF
tree In the orchardl he told me OF ]
himself. For Heavens sake don
name 1t to any oneI'
"Murderl Your husband committed
murderl Indeed, indeed, Dorothy, yoI
have reason to think yourself ruined
Poor thlngI 1 pity you with all M!
hearti"
Dorothy went home weeping an,
wrlnging her hands; and Mrs. Prattle
leaving her dough half.kneaded, an
her infant crying in the cradle, hasten
cd to hold tete,a,tete with Mrs. Tel
all. Soon after this last confab wa
anded the repork of Ichabod'S haVin
committed murder became general, an
the disclosure Of the fact was traced
his wife. Dorothy. Process was In
medlately issued against him by a magi'
trate, before whom, and in the presenC
OF q multitude of anxious spectators, b
gave the following explanation, an
pleaded guilty to the charge Of murder
''My object" said Ichabod, 'in ii
course have pursued, was to test IN
wife's capability of keeping secret
have committed murder inasmuch as
killed toad, and buried it at the fot
Of q tree In my orchard. How far N
wife is capable of keeping secret hi
been sufficiently proved; and, with r
spect to the murder, those who feel q
interest In it are at liberty to inspe
the body"
It is said that the husband had CO.
dinners for month, as q punishmel
for his joke.