Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1899-12-27
Peppers Patent
Heart SearCher.


Among his effects found in his laboratory
after his untimely departure was the Gu
rious mechanism he called his heart
searcher." In appearance it resembled
Waterbury watch. OF its internal mech
anism know nothing.
Fortunately for me the professors in
nvention was accompanied by card OF
directions for USE" so that had no diff
fculty in testing its great value as an aid
in the search after truth.
The instrument had face like an Ordi-
nary watch, except that there was only
one hand or pointer, and in place of the
usual IL figures there were the names of
the moral and immoral sentiments. At
the top opposite the stem or handle was
the zero mark, and when not in use the
pointer rested at the zero or neutral
mark. From the stem extended two in
sulated wires about a yard long. and at
the end of these wires was fiat ivory
disk that could be easily hid in the hand.
My first experiment with the profess
or's heart searcher was calculated to in
spire confidence in the invention. 1t told
the truth with refreshing exactitude.
had, at the time of the professors de-
mise, been dwelling in a state of rather
distressing uncertainty concerning the
feelings of my fourth cousin. Amy Gin
ket, toward myself l wanted to tell her
how much loved her and had not dared,
being uncertain Of the result Of any such
declaration. The heart searcher. Fortu-
nate legacy. 1t might tell me all. and
then could cheerfully propose. knowing
in advance that would be accepted.
First it might be desirable to test the.
heart searcher upon some minor subject.
l placed the heart searcher. in my vest
pocket and secured it there with an imi-
tation watch chain to give the impression
that l had my watch with me. The
wires l passed through the sleeve of my
coat, leaving the ivory disk just hid in my
cuff.
Thus armed. set forth in the quest of
the. unknowable. took the trolley car,
intending to make calls. In the car
met my young niece. Diana. aged Z. Slip
ping the disk into my hand. cordially
took her hand and pressed the disk
against her active little pulse. Pretend
ing to be absorbed in learning the time of
day, asked her sundry questions and at
once saw pictured on the dial of the heart
searcher every passing change in the dear
child's transparent nature.
"Are you not glad to see me. dear"
The pointer swung slowly around to
delight"
"What are your views. my child. upon
the subject of caramels?"
The pointer on the dial promptly moved
to ''hope." This was significant Clear
ly the heart searcher was most impor-
tant invention.
The dear child at once expressed her
self as interested in caramels, concluding
her remarks with the information that
she knew of a place where they sold
''two for FIVE" Manifestly the instru-
ment and my young relatives words did
not agree. She was evidently torn with
conflicting emotions, for the pointer Quiv-
cred slightly and moved to ''disappoint-
ment." She did not wish to plainly ask
for caramels, and yet in the deep recesses
Of her young heart she hoped would
give her some.
II am very sorry. my child, but have
no caramels with me. If l had only
known l should meet you, / would have
brought some with me-"
The pointer was greatly agitated and
vibrated between disappointment" and
doubt"
I at once offered the child dime, and,
to my amazement, the dial indicated "dis-
appointment" only.
| "Oh. beg pardon! Let me see. Was
that quarter? Dear me! I'm sorry I
made such mistake. Here's quarter"
! At once the pointer swung swiftly to
delight"
+! The heart searcher was triumphant
success. l squeezed the dear child's hand
once more. The dial marked "grati-
tude."
"Goodby, dear! must get off here"
/ As left the car | saw young Brown OF
our Office walking quickly down the street
as if in haste to catch a train. l grasped
his hand fervently. my dear boy. I'm
so glad to meet you! How are your moth
er and your sister-in-law and your broth
err, Theodore Augustus? You have plenty
of time" ! remarked as I pretended to
look at my watch.
He pulled his hand away and said Ia
his usual breezy manner: Delighted to
meet you. Goodby--train-awful late
By
He was gone, and l gazed upon the
white face of the heart searcher. Al
though disconnected. the pointer still lin
gered at "botheration." 1t was more
than an hour before it finally settled
back to zero. Brown had evidently q
very powerful emotional nature.
4 Amy was at home when l called. and
whenI shook her hand warmly glanced
hastily at the telltale dial, Expectation
This was encouraging. l would proceed
to unfold my tale Of love. still held
her hand with loverlike fervor and STAN
mered forth my blnshing confession.
At intervals glanced at the white face
of the heart searcher. Its sensitive point
err was greatly agitated and quivered
: from surprise" to "anger" and from
sanger" to 'cold disdain." Finally II
stopped at doubt"
"But. my dear. IL love you"
The fatal words were out.
81 don't believe one word you say. You
are looking at your watch all the time
just to see how soon you can CO."
The heart searcher fell from my nerve
less hand and was dashed to a hundred
pieces.
No, l never repaired it. Amy has con.
WINGED me that 1t is. in the words of the
poet. ''better not to know" The un-
movable is the truly wise.
Amy? Oh. pardon me! She married
another man.-Home Magazine.
Tennys0n's Humor.
There was playful humor in Lord
Tennvson that rorelv shOwed itself nm.