The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-03-07
LAST OF THE CORANS.

Among the many fair castle-homes of
England there could be none fairer or
more stately than Coran Castle, Suffolk.
There lived Squire Coran, fine speci-
men 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 "Fine morning; tirst-rate
weather."
Nearly forty years had passed since
the Squire laid his fair girl-wife in the
vault of the Corans; nearly twenty had
passed since he had buried by her side
the one son of their short wedlock.
Yet Coran Castle was not desolate.
The "heir," though he had died young,
had lived long enough to leave widow
and two orphan babes to his fathers
care. These orphans were now grown
up, and the names Of Hugh and Emma
resounded through the castle, shouted
in the full, CHEEKY voice of the hearty
old man. Dearly did he love them
both: but Hugh was somewhat wild an
hayward, and would sometimes thought
aessly thwart his grandsire's imperious
will. One sore object ever lay between
them. The old Squire was giant in
stature and strength. His youth had
been signalized by feats of prowess and
daring. of which he never wearied to
boast. Hugh Coran, on the contrary,
had small taste for field sports, and,
being small and delicate in frame, con-
stantly took to himself his grandfather
careless SCOTS about "lady-men and
degeneracy."
Not half mile from Coran Castle was
large tract of heath and moorland,
very wild and lonely and at that time
infested with highwaymen. 1t was
necessary to cross this district to reach
the neighboring village of Wrottel.
One day, in the winter time, Hugh
Coran had occasion to so to this vii
lage. He did not return when expect
ed, and dinner was served without him.
Just as it was over he came in, excusing
his hardness by saying that suspicious
characters had been seen on the moor,
and, therefore, he had waited for com
panions on his homeward journey.
His mother was about to commend
what to her seemed but prudence, when
the Squire burst into storm of INJECT
i've at Hugh's "cowardice." When had
he feared any mortal man, least of all q
midnight robber? The moorland Of
fered no shelter for band of highway
men, 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 blushed-yes, that was the
singing word-for the last of the Cor
ans of Coran.
In vain did Hugh answer gently that
me did not think his courage would fail
IL put usefully to the proof, though 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 braggart
that he would risk his own life to
save another's. But the Squire's last
words were too much. His blue eyes
dashed, he threw down his knife, left
his dinner unfinished and his mother
and sister in tears.
Heidi not show himself all that even
ing. Late at night messenger came
from Wrottel, bearing tidings of the
sudden and dangerous illness of an old
friend of the Squires. The man who
brought the letter went on with an
other to a more distant neighbor.
" shall go at once" said the Squire
80 Emma and her mother; Il must see
him again in life"
Then Roo,oro will attend v0,, "a, ~,
gested the widow timidly.
No; Latymer Coran was no court
popinjay, who could not take care of
himself; he was not afraid of the dark
towards were unknown in his young
days.
Squire Coran went to his room to
prepare for his journey. Boosting never
strengthens ones own courage, and he
took great care that his pistol was in
good order At another time, notwith-
standing the reality of the danger, he
would not have taken the pistol: but
now he loaded it with deadly precision
and laid it carefully in his great-coat
pocket.
Emma ran TO call her brother to say
good-by, but she found his door locked
and could get no answer.
"Let him alone" said her grand
father; "let him alone; example is bet
Ter than precept," and so he rode away.
There was onlya cloudy moon, but
the stout-hearted traveller knew his road
and was as little likely to miss his way
on the moor rs is street Arab to lose
himself in London. His thoughts went
before him to his dying friend, and his
indignation with Hugh slowly faded
from his mind, when, just as cloud OBJ
scured the moon, he heard the snort Of
a spurred horse, shadow fell on his
path, hand suddenly caught his bride
end pistol was pointed at his head.
Your money or your ifel"
The words were spoken quickly, in q
disguised but agitated voice. There
was just light enough to sec that the
highwayman was slightly-built man o.
no apparent physical force, yet the