The Plymouth Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1878-1901, 1879-03-20
LAST OF THE C0RANS.

Among the many fair castle homes
OF England there could be none fairer
or more stately than Coran's Castle,
Suffolk. There lived Squire Coran, a
fine 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
sa " the Squire, and smiled Tor FIVE
minutes after hearing his merry
Fine Morning, first-rate weather!"
Nearly forty years had passed
sincc the Squire laid his fair girl
wife Ia the vault OF the Corans;
neatly twenty hal passed since be
Lad buried by her side the one son OF
their short wedlock. Yet Coran Cas-
tie was not dcsolate. The "heir. "
though he had died young, had lived
long enough TO leave widow and two
orphan babies 10 his fathers care.
These orphans were now grown up,
and the names OF Hugh and Emma
rcsounded through the castle, shout
ed in the full, CHEEKY voice OF the
hearty old man, Dearly did he love
them both; but Hugh was somewhat
wild and wayward, and would some
times thoughtlessly thwart his grand
sire's inperious will. One sore object
ever lay between them. Tho old
Squire Was giant In stature and
strength. His youth had been Gig
nalized by feats OF prowess and dar-
ing, of which he never wearied to
boast. Hugh Coran, on the con trary,
had small taste for field sports. aud
being small and delicate in frame,
constantly took to himself his grand
fathers careless scoffs about LADY
men" and @degeneracy.'
Not half mile from Coran Castle
was large tract CT heath and moor.
land very wild and lonely and at the
time infested with highwaymen. Il
was Decessary TO cross thi:
district to reach the neighboiing vii
lage of Wrottel One day, in the
winter time, Hugh Coran had occa
sion to go to this village. He did mo-
return when expected, and dinner wa:
served without him. Just as it wa.
over he came in, excusing his tardi
ness by saying that suspicious char
acters had been seen on the moor
and, therefore, be had waited fo
companions on his homeward journey
7 His mother was about to commend
what to her seemed but prudence
when the Squire burst into storm
OF invectiv at Hugh's ~cowardice.
When had he feared any mortal man
least of all midnight robber? Th
! moorland offered no shelter for
band OF highwaymen, and he too
shame that one OF his race dreade
encounter with any single foe. OIL
: as he was he would ride over Cora
moor alone at midnight aud no han
should harm him or touch his purs,
He blushed-yes. that was the sting
Ing word-for the last OF the Corau
OF Coran.
In vain did Hugh answer gentl
that he did not think his courag
would fail il put usefully to the proc
& though he owned he had but little {
!, the reckless daring OF the ancier
Corans; but still he thought-he moo
esily said he thought, for tn
youth was no braggart-thaS b
would risk his own life to save anotl
h er's. But the Squire's last wore
were too much. His blue eyes fiasl
: ed. he threw down MS knife, left b
dinner unfinished and his mother al
) sister in tears.
He did not show himself that ev
ming. Late at night message can
from Wrottel, bearing tidings of Il
sudden and dangerous illness Of &
[! old friend OF the Squire's. The ma
o who brought the letter went on vii
another to a more distant neighbc
Il shall go at once" said the Squi
to Emma and her mother;;"I must s,
; him again ic llfe."
$. "Then Rogers will attend you
- - suggested the widow timidly.
rs No; Latymer Coran was no cou
h, popinjay, who could not take care
81. himself; he was not afraid of Il
: dark-cowards were unknown in b
young days.