Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1870-08-11

to stife SO. often during these two days,
was now at last silenced in his heart.
Dreams of riches, pleasure, and greatness
filed his thoughts; he felt no desire to
reward those who had been kind to him ;
but he had determined to be revenged on
all who had ever slighted or repulsed
him. 3'- r E-Htt j - ~
From time to time he glanced at his
companion, who sang in q low voice some
verses of o Christmas hymn, or repeated
a prayer. Beneadik was q little uneasy
at what he was about to do; and he COM
mended himself to God, to the Holy Vir-
gin, and to his guardian angel, that'he
might beipreserved from the Wiles of, the
devil, who had doubtless in former days
hidden this treasure over which the Stones
of Plouhinec kept watch. .,.-,-,.f II
Scriven at last desired him to be quiet.
S,No one knows" said he, "who may be
listening to you."S But Beneadik prayed
more fervently than ever in his heart, for
it seemed to him that all the elves and
spirits of the heath were dancing round
him. Et:
At last tYslye o'clock struck; the
church was long way off hut the stEelve
strokes sounded clearly scloss t4e long
Scriven had fisen up, and rbughly
drawn his companion out of the shadow
of the stones.s As the last stroke died
away, they began TO stir, 1oosening them
selves by vioEent effort from tie earth
ewayed about and leaned against each
Ibther like tipsy men; then sprineing for
ward irreguIaF4yy they rushed sway to-
gether in the direction Of the river, bound
ing over the frozen earth, and in their
passage crushing the slender birch trees
onathe- heath and the great cluster ofTeeds
ike whisps Of straw. 9+Es ~ e sSsA
Scri7en seized Beneadik's arm. "Oome,"
hesaid, ina voice so hoarse that no one
would have recognized it and they both
nan to the place where the stones had
by bomb shells on; battlefield, and in
every hole were seen gold and silver and
precious stones. "'-'"
Beneadik, was so dazzled that he would
have stood still to gaze at them, but Scriv-
encforced him to stoop and pick up some
of the treasure. ---fi--------
e Take an you can" he whispered, ssthey
win be back immediately" i.
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. ''""a'1A
!, q" The Stones" he cried and they were.
in fact rushing back again even faster
in hurry to return to their places and to
the treasures over which they watched.
As they advanced they formed themselves
into an Immense circle, and Beneadik saw
at glance that they were surrounded.
2'" We are lostP' he cried.
=. Not ], !" said the beggar, drawing from
his bosom the CROSSWORD and the FIVE
Naa0~w ~wa6 nNrx kI.-k IA y Il u
much trouble to find on the seashore.
'"The Stones of Plouchinec never harm
any one who carries these plants with
him. l must have a baptized Christian
to stay here after / have carried off the
treasure, and expect this favor from
you" he said, with q diabolical laugh.
The Stones turned aside as he presented
themselves again into a column behind
the largest one, they advanced directly
upon Beneadik, who had fallen on his
knees In an agony of terror.
The sbeggar by this time had shut up
his bags, and was preparing to fly.
In less time than 1t 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
no harm to a 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 q rampant, and projected
him with its enormous size; and the rest,
rolled into their places, once
more hiding from human gaze those trea-
sures on which rash eyes had ventured to
look for time,
Scriyen meanwhile found the gold he
had. collected press so 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 to save his life, for when the large
stone had accomplished its work of pro-.
lection it began to roll back, like the 9TH
ers, into its place; the beggar was in front
of 1t, and though he held up the magic
plants in his trembling hands, they had
no power over the stone on which the
sign of the Cross had been made; it rolled
on, leaving the miserable man behind it,
crushed to death under its weight His
horror r-stricken companion, appalled, by
the sight, fell forward insensible on the
ground.
Beneadik appeared the next morning
at the farmhouse, loaded with gold, and
staggering under the bags he had picked
up on the heath but he had grown ten
years older, and it was only after many
years of happiness with Mariemik and
his children that he ceased to tremble
whsn he heard the clock strike twelve at
midnight.