Year: 1879

Among the many fair castle-homes OF Eng
land there could be none fairer or more
stately than Coran Castle, Suffolk. There
lived Squire Coran, fine specimen of the
olden school-stern, rugged, and unbending
as one his own oaks, yet withal genial and
kindly. The meanest peasant ON his estate
walked brsker when he saw the Squire, and
smiled for five minutes after hearing his
merry "Fine morning; frst-rate weather' ''


Nearly forty years had passed since the
squire laid his fair girl-wiie in the vault of
the Corans-.nearly twenty had passed since
he had buried by her side the one son of
their short wedlocl. Yet Coran Castle was
not desolate. The "heir," though he had
died young, had lived long enough to leave
a widow and two orphan babes to his faith
er's care. These orphans were now grown
up, and the names of Hugh and Emma re-
sounded 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 and wayward, and would
sometimes thoughtlessly thwart his grand
sire's imperious will. One sore object ever
lay between them. The old squire was a
giant in stature and strength hisyouth had
been signalized by feats of prowess and dar-
ingj of which he never wearied to boasti
Hugh Coran, on the contrary. had small
taste for field sports, and being small and
delicate in frame, constantly took to himself
his grandlather's careless scons about Gladly
men" and "degeneacy."


Not half mile from Coran Castle was Il
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 go to this
village. He did not return when expected
and dinner was served without him. Just
as it was over he came in, excusng his tar-
diness, by saying that suspicious characters
had been seen on the moor, and, therefore
he had waited for companions on his home
ward journey


His mother was about to commend what
to her seemed but prudence, when the squire
burst into a storm of invective at Hugh's
''cowardice." When had he feared any NOR
tai man, least ofall midnight robber? The
moorland offered no shelter for a band i
highwaymen, and he took shame that one
of his race dreaded encounter with any sin
gle foe. Old as he was, he would ride over
Coran Moor alone at midnight, and no hand
should harm him or touch his pure. He
blushed-yes, that was the singing word
for the last Of the Corans Of Coran.


In vain did Hugh answer gently that he
did not think his courage would fail if put
useiully 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 last words
were too much. His blue eyes flashed, he
threw down his knife, left his dinner unfn-
ished, and his mother and sister in tears


He did not show himself all that evening.
Late at night a messenger came from Wrot-
tel, bearing tidings of the sudden and dan
gerous illness of an old friend of the squire's,
The man who brought the letter went on
with another to a more distant neighbor.


al shall 60 at once" said the squire to
Emma and her mothers al must see him
again in life"


"Then Rogers will attend you?" suggested
the widow timidly.


No; Latymer Coran was no court popin-
jay, who conld not take care of himself; he
was not afraid of the dark-cowards were
unknown in his young days.


| Squire Coran went to his room to prepare
for his Journey. Boosting never strength
ems ones own courage, and he took great
care that his pistol was IN good order. AT
another time, Notwithstanding 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.


4" Let him alone" said her grandfather
"let hrn alone example is better than pre-
cepti ;" and so he rode away.


There was only cloudy moon, but the
stout-h hearted traveller knew his road, and
was as little likely to miss his way on the
moor as is a street Arab to loose himself in
London. His thoughts went before him "a
his dying friend, and his indignation with
Hugh slowly faded from his mind, when
just as a cloud obscured the moon, he heard
the snort Of a spurred horse, shadow fsll