Year: 1879




England there could be none fairer or
more stately thsa Corsn Castle, Suffolk.
There lived Ssuire Corsn, a 6ns speci,
men of the oldea school-stern, rugged
and uubending as one Of bis own oaks,
yet withal genial and w,indly. The
meanest peasant on his estate walked
brisksr when he saw the Squire. and
smiled for five minutes after hearing his
merry Fine morning frst>rate wealth
er 80


Nearly forty years had passed since
the Squire laid his fair girl wife in tbs
vault of the Cerans; 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 i; but Hugh
was some what wild and wayward. and
would sometimes thoughtlessly thwart
bis grandsire's S imperious will. One sore
object ever lay between them. The old
Squire was a giant in stature and
strength. His youth had been signalized
by feats of prowess and daring, of which
he neYe; wearled to boast. Hugh Coran
on the contrary, had small taste for field
sports, and, being small and delicate in
frame, constantly took to himself his
grandfather's careless sceffs 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 neighbor-
ing village Of Wrottel One day, in the
winter time, Hugh Coran bad occasion
to go to this village. He did not return
when expected, and dinner was served
without him. Just as it was over be
came in, excusng his tsrdiness by say
ing that suspicious characters had been
seen or the moor, and, therefore, he had
waited for companions OH his homewa I'd
Journey.


His mother WAS about to commend
what to her seemed but prudence, when
the Squire burst into storm of invective
Mt Hugh's cowaIdice." When had he
feared any mortal man, least of all mid
night robber 2 The moor!and offered no
shelter for band of highwaymen, and
he took shame that one Of his race dread
ed encoupter with any single foe. Old
as he was he would ride over Corsn moor
alone at midnight and no hand should
harm him or touch his purse. He blu sh-
ed yes, that was the singing word for
tho last Of the Corans of Conan.


In vain did Hugh answer gently that
he did not think his courage would tail
if put usefu}iy to the proof though he
owned he had but little of the reck less
daring OF the ancient Corans but still he
thought-he modestly said he thought,
for the youth WAS so braggart-that he
would risk his own life to save anotEer's.
But the Squire,s last words were too
much. His blue eys flashed, he threw
down bis knife, left his dinner unfinished
and his mother and sister in tears.


He did 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 Squire's. The man who
brought the letter went on with another
to more distant neigh Dor.


" | shall go a. once" said the Squire
to Emma and her mother ~ must sec
him again in life."


Tnen Rogers will attend you ?" sug
gested the widow llmidly.


No; Latymer Coran was no court
popinjay, who could not take care oil
himself; he WAS not afraid Of the dark -
towards were unknown in his young
days.


Squire Coran went to his room to pre-.
pare for his journey. Boosting never
strengthens ones own courage, and be
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 care.
fully 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 only a cloudy moon, but
the stout hearted traveller knew his roaC
and was as little likely to miss his way
on the moor as is street Arab to lose
himself in London. His thoughts went
before HIM TO his dying friend, and hi.
indignation with Hugh slowly iadec
from his mind, when, just as clond oh.
scured the moon, he heard the snort ol
a spurred horse, shadow Tell on hi
path, hand suddenly caught his bride
and a pistol was pointed at his head.


" Your money or your life ~


The words were spoken quickly, in
disguised but agitated voice. There wa
just light enough to see that tho high
wayman was slightly built man of n,
apparent physical force, yet the Squir
remembered his vain boast as be felt hov
completely he was in the stripping
power. There was moments silence
The SqCire's hand was in his great Goa
pocket. Did the robber think he wa
getting his purse ? Did the Squire know
he was searching tor his pistol A?