The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-02-14
OUR STORY TELLER.
DISCORDIA'S RING.


in IL. He was the largest young man in
the neighborhood, and his hair was
sandy, and his skin tanned to bright
copper color. AS for his eyes, they were
of very light, bright green-the eyes
Of a jealous man. Discordia thought
him very handsome.
As to Discordia's personal appearance,
there could be no doubt. She was re-
markably pretty, and all the tanning in
the world could only make her skin of
brighter brown, and her teeth more in
tensely white. Her hair curled tight
about her head in tiny rings, and her
lips were scarlet.
At the time of Discordia's birth there
had come TO board at Mrs. Peck's cot
tage learned gentleman, who sought to
combine the benefit of county air and
sea breezes with the quiet necessary for
the production of series of papers.
The air and the sea breezes he found !;
the quiet he did not find, for the shrieks
of the infant daughter of the house pen
etrated every recess of the hitherto quiet
cottage.
The learned gentleman fed to the
woods and wilds to find peace, and did
not find it. Insects bit his nose and got
into his ear. He overturned his ink on
finished manuscript, and had his straw
hat eaten up by a horse who came be-
hind him unawares, while he was deep
in composition.
Driven from his rural retreat in this
dreadful way the learned man took a
secret revenge of a diabolical nature {;
for, upon family discussion of the
future name of the infant girl, he intro
duced his advice, and so tempted the
proud mother with the fine sounding
name of Discordia, that she had the
child christened Discordia Jane at the
nearest church at the next available op.
portunity.
The learned man waited the event
aud went away with fendish rejoicing
in his heart. "No man." said he tC
himself, "would ever marry girl named
Discordia Jane"
He did not reflect that the mytholog
ical significance of the name was dead
letter in that part of the world where
Discordia was TO pass her maidenhood
or that she would henceforth be called
Mrs. Peck's Cordy.
Discordia grew up most remorseles;
hirt, and caused woful discord among
the young fishers in the neighborhood
Quarrels on her account were merely
the regular thing, and the fact that she
had given her smiles equally to Samue
Dean and Peter Mead caused those two
young men to enter into single comba
in an open boat, and to repent of tn,
rash act during the long hours of
winter night, during which they sa
upon the bottom of their overturned
boat, TO which they had providentiall,
managed to cling, and grew so cold tha
love died out in both their hearts, ant
they loved the old fisherman who hap
PLY came to their rescue at daybreal
far better than they did Discordia Jan
Peck.
However, Mezahab Dunn had some
how actually won Discordia's heart. Fl
was, as we have seen, "Cordy Peck
company" and she was quite satisfied.
Old people declared that " Cordy Pee
was pretty behaved nowadays" an
other girls kept their beaux in peace.
Meanwhile Mezahab strove to max
his crown a pound"
They were all comfortable peopl
enough, but there was not much ele
gance in the place, and jewelry was ger
orally bought Of peddlers, who came wit
tempting sets to the cottage doors.
Therefore, when Mezahab one fin
afternoon betook himself by train to tn
city, and brought thence real gold rims
with real turquoise in it, and slippe
II on Discordia's finger as her engage
ment ring, it was something to talk of.
1t was a little large, but the fnge
would doubtless grow, if Discordia too
after her mother, and the gold was s
bright, and the stone 50 blue and beal
tiful, that it was a pleasure to look at i
And blue is the color of true love,
said Mezahab "Pve heard that, an
that's why bought it."
Discordia loved the ring for the sal
OF its giver, and for its own sake ais
and she would never take it off.
Put it away, and wear it o. Sunda,
would, If | was YOU" said the mothe
But Discordia had heard that it WI
"unlucky" ever to remove an engag
ment ring, and for the same reason 81
would never let any one try it on. Whe
she feared to soil it she wrapped pie,
Of soft muslin about her finger, and
last this came to be her work-day sty
OF wearing it.
"If / should lose that ring" she sa
once 10 her mother, "I know / shou
lose Mez too. feel it in my bones"
She said this the very day that Me2
hab went with his father to his gran
fathers funeral. The old mans hoI
was miles away, and Mezahab wou
not return for four or five days-for
week, perhaps
Money had been left him. He wou
he rich enough to marry Discordia
once; ms soon, at least, as popular OPT
ion permitted after a "death in t
family" But Mezahab was too mu
Of n man to feel covetous of dead mel
shoes, even when they had been shufH
of; and Dfscbrdia would have felt
wicked to feel any pleasure as yet. T
two parted very seriously.
Poor old grand-dad, said Mezaha