The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-12-12
NUMBER 80.
Peppers Patent
Heart SearCher.

was Professor Peppers only heir.
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 a
Waterbury watch. OF its internal mech
| anism know nothing.
Fortunately for me the professors in
vention was accompanied by a 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 pointer, and in place of the
usual II 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 yard long. and at
the end of the wires was a fiat ivory
| disk that could've 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.
i had, at the time of the professors de-
mise, been dwelling in q state of rather
| distressing uncertainty concerning the
feelings of my fourth cousin, Amy Clin-
ket, toward myself | 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 1 could cheerfully propose, knowing
in advance that l would be accepted.
| First If MIGHT no daSirn hlp fo fosf 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 lrough 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 mr. young niece, Diana, aged Z. Slip
ping the disk into my hand, l cordially
took her hand and pressed the disk
against her active little pulse. Pretend
ing to be absorbed In learning the time Of
day, l 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.
Il "Are you not glad to see me, dearT
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 q most impor-
tant invention.
0 The dear child at once expressed her
1 self as interested in caramels, concluding
her remarks with the information that
she knew of -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-
s | ment." She did not wish to plainly ask
4 | for caramels, and yet in the deep recesses
r of her young heart she hoped l would
. | give her some.
81 am very sorry, my child, but have
no caramels with me. If l had only
known l should meet you, l would have
l. brought some with me-"
). The pointer was greatly agitated and
vibrated between disappointment" and
Y doubt
4 1 at once offered the child dime, and,
!, to my amazement, the dial indicated dis
appointment only.
E. that a quarter? Dear me! I'm sorry ]
made such mistake. Here's quarter u
81 AT once the pointer swung swiftly to
delight
el The heart searcher was a triumphant
o success. l squeezed the dear child's hand
once more. The dial marked "grati.
tude."
"Goodby, dear! l must get off here"
As l left the car l saw young Brown OF
% our Office walking quickly down the street
st as if in haste to catch train. l grasped
his hand fervently. MY dear boy, I'm
l. so glad to meet youi How are your moth.
er and your sister-in-law and your broth
v er, Theodore Augustus? You have plenty
;, Of time" 1 remarked as l pretended tc
look at my watch.
He pulled his hand away and said il
his usual breezy manner: Delighted tt
l. meet you! Goodby.-train-awful late
1t By
He was gone, and l gazed upon the
4 white face of the heart searcher. AL
a- though disconnected, the pointer still lin
N gered at ''botheration.' 1t was more
than an hour before it finally settlet
back to zero. Brown had evidently
- very powerful emotional nature.
Amy was at home when l called, ant
is when l shook her hand warmly glanced
I'd hastily at the telltale dial, Expectation.
I'd This was encouraging. | would proceed
I'd to unfold my tale of love. l still helt
her hand with loverlike fervor and STAN
;, mcred forth my blushing confession.
" At intervals l glanced at the white fac
. of the heart searcher. Its sensitive point
er was greatly agitated and quiveret
a from surprise" to 'anger" and from
I'd sanger" to 'cold disdain." Finally
stopped at doubt"
" "But, my dear. IL love you"
l?I The fatal words were out.
81 don't believe one word you say. Yo'
"A are looking at your watch all the tim
- just to see how soon you can CO."
The heart searcher fell from my nerve
less hand and was dashed to a hundre
ne pieces.
RI, No, l never repaired it. Amy has con
IL vinced me that it is, in the words of tn
n lpoet, "better not to know" The un
Il. movable is the truly wise.
Amy? Oh, pardon me! She marrie
mother man.-Home Magazine.
Tennyson's HumOr.