Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-08-11

= prayer. Beneadik was little uneasy
q vkst Ia w shout 70 do; and ho COM
mended himself TO God, to the Holy Viz.
ein. and TO his guardian angel, that he
miaht be preserved from the wiles Of the
devil. who had doubtless in forner days
hidden this treasure over which the Stones
of Plouhincc kept watch.
6criven ct last desired him to Be quiet
- No one knows" said he, "whO may Be
listening to you" But Beneadk prayed
more fervently than ever in his heart, for
Il seemed TO him that all the elves and
spirits Of the heath were dancing round
him.
At last twelve o'clock struck; the
church Was long way OF, hut TIE twelve
strokes sounded clearly acToN the long
stretch Of bare fields, now covered with
snow.
Scriven had risen up, and roughly
drawn his companion out Of the shadow
of the stones. As the last stroke died
away, they began TO str, loosening them
selves by violent effort from the earth
in which they we're embedded; they
swayed about and leaned against each
other like tipsy men; then springing for
ward trTegularly, they rushed awsy to-
gether in the direction Of the river, bound
ing over the frozen earth, and In their
passage crushing the slender birch trees
on the heath and the great cluster OF reeds
like whisps Of straw.
Scriven seized Beneadik's arm. "Come,"
he said, In q voice 20 hoarse that no one
would have recognized il; and they both
ran to the place where the stones had
stood. The ground was plowed up AZ if
by bomb shells ON Z battlefield, and in
every hole were seen gold and silver and
precious stones.
Beneadik, was 30 dszEled that he would
have st00d still to gaze at them, but Scriv-
en- forced him to stoop and pick up some
of the treasure.
"Take all you can" he whispered, 'they
will be back Immediately"
As he spoke he filed all the empty bags
that he had brought in his beggar's wal
let. Beneadik also stuffed the gold into
his pockets, and both his hands were full
when loud and terrible noise made him
start up suddenly.
1.-THE Stones," he cried and they were
in fact rushing back again even faster
than they had run away, - II they were
in hurry to return to their places and 70
the treasures over which they watched.
A. they advanced they formed themselves
into an immense circle, and Beneadik saw
Ut glance that they were surrounded.
1--WE are lostw he cried.
"Not l." said the beggar, drawing from
his bosom the crossword and the i've
leaved clover that It had cost him 90
much trouble to ind on the seashore
1.-THE Stones Of Plouchinec never harm
any one who carries these plants with
him. / must have baptized Christian
TO stay here sitter have carried of the
treasure, and l expect this favor from
you," he said, with q diabolicsl laugh.
The Stones turned aside a. he presented
the magic plants TO them, and, forming
themselves again into column behind
the largest one, they advanced directly
upon Beneadik, who had fallen on his
knees in An agony Of terror.
The beggar by this time had shut up
his bags, and was preparing TO fly.
In less time than II has taken TO tell, the
terrible battalion had reached the plow-
man Of Pluvigner, but at the sight OF him
the largest stone stood suddenly still 1t
bore the sign Of the Gross, and could do
no harm to Christian. Beneadik was
still on his knees, confusedly murmuring
prayers mingled with the name of Marie
mix, when the great stone placed itself in
front of him like rampant, and projected
him with its enormous size; and the rest,
separating, rolled into their places, once
more hiding from human gaze those trea.
sures on which rash eyes had ventured TO
look for time.
Scriven meanwhile found tho gold he
had collected press 20 heavily on his
shoulders that he threw away his bags,
hoping some other time to come back and
look for them. His only thought now
was 10 save his life, for when the large
stone had accomplished its work Of pro-
lection 1t began to roll back, like the 9th.
ers, into its place the beggar WAS In front
of II, and though he held mp the magic
plants in his trembling hands, they had
no power over the stone on which the
sign of the cross had been made; itrolled
on, leaving the miserable man behind 1t,
crushed to death under it, weight. bis
horror stricken companion, appalled, BY
the sight, fell forward insendble on the
ground.
Beneadik appeared tho next morning
1t the farmhouse, loaded with gold, and
staggering under the bags he had picked
up ON the heath; but he had grown tan
years older, and 1t was only a.t>r many
years Of happiness with Mariemik and
his Children that he ceased TO tremble
when he heard the clock strike twelve 1t
midnight.
Protective Colors and Resemblancoa
among Animals.
SOME very curious examples are given
by Mr.. Wallace, In his essays on "Natursl
Selection" of protective colors and re-
semblances among animals. He says:
"In the tropics there are thousands Of
species OF insects which rest during the
day clinging to the bark of dead or fallen
trees; and the greater portion Of these
are delicately mottled with gray. and
brown tints, which, though symmctrically
disposed and infinitely varied, yet blend
10 completely with the usual oolors OF the
Al q -