The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-04-27
A " SHOPPER "


The wedding was to take place Christmas
Eve, and grand preparations were being
made, for it was TO be the affair Of the
season.
One evening in October, the doctor, after
pulling his brides youngest sisters ears to
his hearts content, suggested late oyster
supper, and for some reason which we would
find it difficult to explain carried home an
oyster shell from the repast
The following morning he found it in his
pocket, and while resting from his profess
sional work, amused himself by thoroughly
scrubbng it, but few of us know how
beautiful an oyster shell u.s. said he.
"As beautiful as Belle" asked his friend
and former classmate, Doctor Codine, who,
while lying on Bander's operating chair,
read the latest medical journal
no. said DR.. Bander, as he continued
to admire the shell.
"Nor as eloquentf again said his friend,
in a teasing tone.
which asked Bander, ambiguously.
Condine continued his reading as Bander,
mechanically, polished his shell. Suddenly
an idea presented itself to him which
seemed amusing, for he smiled as he glued
q ribbon TO the back of the shell, and upon
its face he painted the word "Snoopern
He ornamented its edges with a narrow
rim Of gold, and then hung it on the wall
of his Office, among the paintings and ar
ticles Of bric-a-brac, most of which he had
collected on his travels.
When he had finished his little ornament,
his friend rose looked at it and said:
" Regy what is a snOOperfN
DIR. Bander, without changing feature,
or manifesting the least annoyance in his
tone, answered
IAN apparatus designed to make fools
ask questions"
The "Snooper" was forgotten by the
time Miss Belle entered with a message
| from her mother, asking whether Regy
would have time to dine with her that
| evening.
While DR.. Bander proceeded to write,
| Miss Belle "set things Alright The ele-
! CANT little dust broom which Belle had
| given her future husband, was whisking off
the particles which had settled upon his
| books and ornaments, as she talked to him
suddenly she stopped, touched the oyster
| shell upon the wall and read the word
"Snooper.'
A snooper, dear" he answered. is
an apparatus designed to make fools ask
| questions.
She did not laugh, but quietly laying
| down the buster, before he could under
stand her actions, she had left his office,
and moment later he heard the street
| door open.
Belle, dear he exclaimed, but his
voice was full of misgiving The door
closed, and DR.. Bander understood that
something had disturbed the pleasant en-
gagement. His efforts to continue writing
proved futile, Bellies silent exit spoke
volumes to him. He could not convince
himself that the matter would blow over
as soon as he might wish.
The entrance Of patients for while gave
his thoughts other directions, but his office
hours were hardly over when lie deter
mined TO call on his bride and either laugh
away the affair or if he should fail in this
much as he disliked the idea-he would
apologize.
He was adjusting his gloves when his
eyes fell upon the "snooper,n and-women
would say manlike-he tore it from the
wall and opening a window threw it out
and was sorry that it did not break on the
pavement below
Slowly he entered his cab, and wa!
about to order the coachman to drive h
RemeSas house, when messenger handed
him a package. He opened it, and founC
all his presents to his bride, even to his en-
gagement ring.
| He did not observe the messenger pick
UP something from the street, and smile
as he carried off the "snooper" with him;
but returned to his rooms and gathered the
pretty little ornaments his bride had given
him, made pack of them and sent them
to her without a word
The two apparently gayest people at
all Of the balls and parties during the entire
winter were Miss Remesa and DR.. Bander
yet they avoided each other as skillfully as
they did the questions of their relatives and
friends Soon all ceased to speak of the en-
gagement and by spring it was only re
membered that at one time they had beer
promised to each other.
Again Christmas approached and nr
Bander had not eaten an oyster in that IN
terval.
He worked harder than ever at protes
sional matters, and was appointed surgeon
of the hospital.
A fair was to be given for the benefit Of
the institution, and of course he must at
tend
Bander went, and l was victimized in tn,
usual way with grab-bags, rafiles, votes fo
the prettieSt lady, the most popular physi
clan, etc.
As his purse grew light, thoughts Of go
ing home presented themselves to him
when he noticed a large number of people
in one corner of the hall, who seemed t,
struggle towards the center and leave will
a small package, which each one opened
when alone and laughed at the contents
He approached the crowd and withou
being able to elicit the cause of the com
motion, was pressed to a pagoda within
which stood Belle, who, with perhaps eve
so slight tremor in her voice, said:
Good evening, DR.. Bander. How man,
will you take' Only rs cents each"
He handed her a dollar and she quickly
returned him four little jewelers. boxes
upon which was printed, "To be opene,
when alone" The surging crowd pushed
him off, and as soon as he was free h
opened one Of the boxes and drew forth
circular, which read as follows:
THE ONLY ORIGINAL SHOPPER.
PATENTED COPYRIGHTED AND CAvEATED b
THE INVENTOR.