The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1869-04-07
The Fatal Shot.

Among the many fair castle homes
Of England there could be none fairer
or more stately than Coran Castle,
Suffolk. There lived Squire Coran,
hne specimen Of the olden school
stern, rugged, and unbending as one
OF his own oaks, yet, Withal, genial
and kindly. The meanest peasant on
his estate walked brisker when he
saw the Squire, and smiled for five
minutes after hearing his merry
1'hne morning; first rate weather 20
Nearly forty years had passed since
the Squire laid his fair girl wife In
the vault Of the Corans nearly TWEEN
ty years since he has buried by her
side the one son of their short we'd
lock. Yet Coran Castle was not des-
olate. The "heir," though he died
young, had lived long enough to leave
wld0w and two orphan babes to his
fathers care. These orphans were now
Emma resounded through the castle
In the full, cherry voice Of the hearty
old man. Dearly did he love them
both but Hugh was somewhat wild
and WayWard, and would sometimes
thoughtle5sly thwart his gYandsire's
imperious will. One sore subjeet ever
lay between them. The old Squire
was . giant in stature and strength /;
his youth had been eignalized by
feats Of proWess and daring, Of which
he never .wearied to boast. Hugh
Coran, on the contrary, had small
tastes for field sports, and being small
and delicate in frame, constantly
took to himself his Rrandfather's
careless scofl5 about '1ady men" and
'deGeneraey.
Not half : mile from Coran Castle
was large tract of heath and moor
land, very wild and lonely, and at
that time infested with highWaymen.
It was necessary 20 cross this district
to reach the neighboring town Of
Wrettel, One day, In the winter time,
Hugh Coran had occasion to go to
this village. He did not return when
expected, and dinner was served
without him. Just as It was over, he
came in, excusing his tard6e by
saying that some suspicious eharac-
ters had been seen on the moor, and
and therefore he had waited for his
companions on his homeWard Journey.
His mother was about to commend
what to her seemed prudence, when
the Squire broke into q storm Of in-
VectiVe at Hugh's 'scowardice." -
When had he feared any mortal man
Least of all a midnight robber? The
Eoorland offered no shelter for q
band of highWaymen, and he took
shame that one of his race dreaded
encounter with any single foe. Old
| as he was, he would ride over Coran
Moor alone at midnight, and no hand
should harm him or touch his purse.
! He blnshed yes, that was the sting
ing Word-for the last of the Corans
| Of COran.
In vain did Hugh answer gently
| that he did not think his courage Wo'd
| fail II put useiully to the proof, that
he owned he had but little of the
reckless daring Of the ancient COrans;
but still he thOught-he modestly said
he thought, for the youth was no brag-
gart-that he would risk his own life
| 70 save anOther's. But the Squire's
last words were too much. His blue
eyes flashed, be threw down his knife
left his dinner unfinished, and his
mother and sister IN tears.
He did not show himself all that
evening. Late at night q messengeg
came nom Wrettel, bearing the IL
dInRs OF the sudden and dangerous
illness OF an old friend Of the Squire's
The man who brought the letter
went on with another to a more dis
tant neighbor.
al shall 90 at once. said the So uire
to Emma and her mother. ''I must
ses him again In life"
uThea Rogers will attend you f''
J suggested the widow, dmidly.