Year: 1870

Ii seemed as II the other had suddenly
risen out of the earth. "Does the master
paw you to make drawings on the stones ?
"The master has dismissed me-that j.
what he has done," replied Beneadik. Hi!
heart was full, and he was surprised al
the beggar's bold tone. "I am to have
more time to myself than l want, and
meanwhile, that may find work, an
marking this stone with the sign of my
salvat. t.on. 1t is said that in former days
these stones have seen human blood flow
in the devils service. 1t won't do any
harm now for this one to bear on it the
sign H the Cross"


And Reneadik quietly finished his work
completing the cross he had begun to cut
upon the stone.


Listen to me-" said the begear, in a
low voice. "What would you give me il
I were to make you rich enough to marry
Mariemik to morrow if you like, or even
to look elsewhere and higher if you have
mind to do so?


Beneadik's tools dropped from his
hands. "Rich," he gasped, in choking
voice Marianik," He was so much ex-
cited that he could not find words, but he
looked eagerly at the beggar.


81 know" said Scriven, "that these
stones" and he touched the large one on
which Beneadik had just cut the sign of
the cross, "will this very night tear them
selves up from the ground on which they
rest, and 90 to drink at the river Intel.
Under them is hidden treasure so great
that no eye has ever seen the like. A
single person would never be able to car
ry it eff before the stones came back to
their place. but if you will help me, l
swear by your patron saint that you shall
never again need to bow your head to any
man."


Beneadik seized the beggar's hands in
bis, not noticing how they trembled. "If
you will only make me rich enough to
obtain Nariemik from her iather," he
cried, you may take ali the rest you
shall have my gratitude into the bargain,
and my services by day and by night, in
fair weather or foul; except Mariemik and
my nope of heaven, | will refuse you
nothing that you can ask of me"


Scriven smiled; but it was dark by this
time, and besides, Beneadik was too hap
by and too trustful to comprehend the look
Of troubled joy that passed over the face
Of his companion.


II will stay here and watch beside the
stones" said the beggar. 81 have some
thing in my gouri that will keep out the
cold. You have still place at the fire
place and table of the farmhouse; go
back 10 supper, and when you look at
Mariernik say to yourself that tomorrow
she viii be yours if our enterprise sue
ceeds; and then at eleven O'clock come
back here to me-"


ScIiyen was eager to get rid Of Benea-
dix, fer the young mans gratitude weighed
upon his mind till his remorse was insup-
supportabie. at must be-" he kept re-
peating to himself; "and he is such o
good Christian that he viii go straight to
heaven"


Beneadik found it very difficult to con-
ceal his joy; in the darkest moment of
his grief strange hope had risen before
him. Mariemik looked at him in amaze
ment; she had blushed when during that
day her mother he'd said in her hearing
that Beneadik was about to leave them to
seek his fortune elsewhere, but she had
bravely restrained her tears, waiting till
she was alone to weep. Now, however,
the joy that she read in Bencadik's face
almost overcame her courage. Was ne
then so happy to go away from her?


Scriven had desired him, above ali
things, to keep their secret; but it was
well that it was for SO short time, or
Beneadik would never have been able to
be silent when he saw Mariemik's sad
looks. He stood for a moment before the
crucifiX and repeated prayer; then turn
ing to take one more look at the young
girl, he went out to the stable, where he
could hide his agitation and his hopes; he
caressed the OK, who looked up at the
sound of his voice; and then, before il
was quite eleven o'clock, he went back
to look for Scriven at the Stones of Plou-
hinec.


The beggar seemed almost benumbed
with the cold, and scarcely spoke. The
voice of conscience, which he had tried
TO stifle go often during these two days,
was now at last silenced in his heart.
Dreams of riches, pleasure, and greatness
filed bis thoughts; he felt no desire to
reward those who had been kind 20 him !;
but he had determined to be revenged on
all who had ever sighted or repulsed
him.


From time to time he glanced at his
companion, who sang in low voice some
verses Of a Christmas hymn, or repeated
a prayer. Eeneadik was 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 be preserved from the wiies of the
devil, who had doubtless in former days
hidden this treasure over which the Stones
of PlOuhinec kept watch.


Scriven at last desired him to be quiet.
"No one knows" said he, "who may be
listening to you" 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.


At last twelve o'clock struck; the
church was long way Oft, but the twelve
strokes sounded clearly across 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 stir, loOsening them
selves by violent effort from the earth
in which they were embedded; they
swayed about and leaned against each
other like tipsy men; then springing for
ward irregularly, they rushed away to-
gether i'm the direction of the river, bound
ing over the frozen earth, and in their
passsge crushing the slender birch trees
on the heath and TIE great cluster of reeds
like whisps of straw.


Scriven seized Beneadik's arm. "Come,'
he said, IN voice so hoarse that no one
would have recognized it; and they both
ran to the place where the stones had
stood. The ground was plowed up as il
by bomb shells on a battle field. 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-
en- forced him to stoop and pick ur some
of the treasure.


"Take all you can," he whispered, "they


viii be back Immediately"
As he spoke he filled all the empty bags
that he had brought in his beggar's wal