The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-11-17
"SNOOPER,"


DY FRRD. c. VALENTINE.
It was most extraordinary engagement
lin fact, incomprehensible. Just imagine
Belle Remesa cher name was Isabel, bu
Icy has not pretty sound the charming
hazel.eyed, golden.haired fairy. was en-
gagged to be married to Doctor Reginald
Bander.
But this fact alone was neither incompre
hensible nor extraordinary, for he was al
wealthy as she; he as handsome and learn
ed man as she was pretty and refined
woman; no, the rare feature in the case
was, that the relatives Of both nigh con
tracing parties were not only satisfied, but
eminently pleased with the match.
Imagine, fair resder-and unfair one
too-what would you think If your mother
in.law were openly, in your presence and
out Of It, to express her unqualified ap.
proval Of the brilliant match her child had
made? What II your sisters.in-law should
agree with their mother?
Well; that was the astonishing feature in
Bellies and the Doctors engagement.
They loved each other devosedly, Of
course, but because there wss no opposition
to the match they lost a great deal Of the
miserable joys, or joyous lniseries, ofcourt-
ship. They felt as II they had been mar
ried for years, because their goodbye
kisses were not stolen, but given and re-
ceived, as matter Of course, in presence Of
all.
The wedding was to take place Christmas
Eve, and grand preparations were being
made, for 1t was to be the affair OF the sea.
son.
One evening in October, the Doctor, after
pulling bis BRIDES younger sisters ears to
his hearts content, suggested late oyster
supper, and for some reason which be
would find difficult to explain, carried
home an oyster-shell from the repast.
On the following morning be found it in
his pocket, and while resting from his pro.
tessionsl work, amused himself by
thoroughly scrubbiug it. "BGt few OF Us
know how beautiful an oyster shell is,"
said he.
"As beautiful as Belle? 2" asked his friend
and former classmate Doctor Codine, who
while lying on Bander's operating chair
reading the last medical journal.
NO." said Doctor Bander, while he con.
tined 10 admire the shell.
"Nor as eloquent ?" again said his friend,
in teasing tone.
(which ~ asked Doctor Bander, ambl.
guously.
Codine continued his reading as Bander
mechanically polished the shell. Suddenly
an idea presented itself TO him which
seemed amusing, for he smiled as he glued
a ribbon to the back OF the shell, and upon
its lace he painted the word "Snooper"
lie ornamented its edges with narrow
rim Of gold and then hung 1t on the wall oil
his office, among the paintings and articles
OF brlc.a-b rac, most Of which he had col
lected on his travels.
When he had finished his little orna.
ment, his friend arose, looked at 1t and
said:
"Regy, what Is snooper?"
DR.. Bander without changing a feature,
or manifesting the least annoyance in his
tone, answered:
" Anapparatus designed to make Dlam ed
fools ask questions"
For somereason both laughed, yetneither
would have been able to explain their
amusement, except, perhaps, by the an
tithesis 1t presented to the usual serious
character Of their employment.
The "snooper" was soon forgotten in the
discussion Of new operation which sur.
gical celebrity was Just then introducing,
when Miss Belle entered with message
from her mother, asking whether Regy
ppnTId IN NIT AEak
evening.
The Doctor kissed his bride, whereupon
his friend, with farcical gravity, felt his
pulse, and In breath said:
" Repdhur pro re nata, five dollars Is my
fee. and eiecting pompous stride, took
his hat and overcoat and went home.
While Doctor Bander proceeded to write,
Miss Belle "set things Alright" which, as a
bride, was q pleasure 10 both, and which,
as awife, she might conaider quite task
and he an insuGerable bore. such Is the
way with majority Of professional men
they seem TO enjoy disorder in the work.
shop Of their brains, and their wives take
particular pleasure in depriving them OF
that enjoyment.
The elegant little dust.broom which
Belle had given her future husband was
whiskipg OH the particles which had settled
upon his books and ornaments as she
talked to him.
Suddenly che stopped, touched the oys.
Ter shell upon the wall, and read the word
"Snooper."
PERI"
"a 'snooper,' dear, he answered, "is an
apparatus designed to make fools ask ques-
tions"
She did not laugh, but quietly laying
down the buster, before be could under.
stand her actions, she had lett his office,
and moment later he hoard the street
door open.
"Belle, dear, he exclaimed, but his voice
was iull Of misgiving The door closed,
and Doctor Bander understood that some.
thing had disturbed the pleasant engage
menL His efforts to continue writing
proved futile. Bellies silent exit spoke
volumes to him. de could not convince
himself that tho matter would blow over
as soon as he might wish.
The entrance oil patients, for while gave
his thoughts other directions, but his Office
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