Litchfield enquirer., 1851-05-15
LITcHFIELD COMM THURSDAY MAY 49, 1851. '

and reeling like a drunken man to his
straw, cast himself upon it to brood again
over the appalling image that had fas-
tened itself upon his almost frenzied
thought.
He slept. But his slumbers were not
tranquil. He resisted, as long as he
could their approach and when, at last
enfeebled nature yielded to their inAu
ence he found no oblivion from his cares.
Terrible dreams haunted him-ghastly
visions narrowed up his innaginations--
he shouted and screamed, as if he already
felt the dungeons ponderous roof de-.
scending on him-he breathed hard and
thick, as though writing between its
iron walls. Then he would spring up
stare wildly about him-stretch forth his
hands to be sure he yet had space enough
to live-and, muttering some incoherent
words, sink down again. to pass through
the same fierce vicissitudes of delirous
sleep. . 81. s#f*t.
The morning Of the fourth day dawn
ed upon Vivenzio. But it was high
noon before his mind shook off its stupor
or he awoke to full consciousness Of
his situation. And what fixed energy
of despair sat upon his pale features, as
he cast his eyes upwards, and gazed on
the three windows that now alone remain
ed The three There were no more
and they seemed to number his own
allotted days. Slowly and calmly he
next surveyed the top and sides, and
comprehended all the meaning Of the d.
minished height of the former, as well
as of the gradual approximation of the
latter. The contracted dime nsions of his
mysterious prison were now too gross and
palpable to be the juggle of his heated
imagination. Still lost in wonder at the
means. Vivenzio could put no cheat upon
his reason, as the end? By what horri-
BILE ingenuity it was contrived, that walls
and roof, and windows, should thus ST.
lently aud imperceptibly, without noise
and without motion almost, fold, as it
were, within each other, he knew not.
He only knew they did SO; and he vainly
strove to persuade himself it was the in
tention Of the contriver, to rack the mis-
orable wretch who might be immured
there, with anticipation, merely, of fate
from which in the very crisis Of his agony
he was to be reprieved.
Gladly would he have chung to this
possibility, if his heart would have let
him; but he felt dreadful assurance Of
his falacy. And what matchless inhu-
manity it was to doom the sufferer to
such lingering torments--to lead him
day by day to so appalling a death, un-
supported by the consultations OF religion,
un- visited by any human being. aban>
doned to himself, deserted of all, and
denied even the sad privilege Of knowing
that his cruel destiny would awaken
pity Alone he was to perish !--alone
he was to await slow coming torture,
whose most exquisite pangs would be in
hicted by that very solitude and that
tardy coming!
1t is not death fear, he exclaimed,
'but the death l must prepare for
Methinks, too. could meet even that
all horrible and revolving lit is--if it
might overtake me now. But whore
shall ! find fortitude 10 tarry till it come?
How can | outlive the three long days
and nights l have 10 live9 There is no
power within me to bid the hideous spec
tire hence; none to make it familiar to
my thoughts or myself, patient of its err
rand. My thoughts, rather will flee
from me, and 1 grow mad in looking at
it. o for deep sleep to fall upon me
that so, in deaths likeness, might en-
brace death itself, and drink no more OF
the cup that is presented to me. than my
fainting spirit has already tasted 7
In the midst of these lamentations,
Viyenzio noticed that his accustomed
meal, with the pitcher of'water, had been
conveyed, as before into his dungeon.
But this circumstance no longer excited
his surprise. His mind was overwhelm
ed with others Of a far greater magnitude
It suggested however. feeble hope Of
deliverance and there is no hope 50
feeble. as not to yield some support to a
heart bending under despair. he resol-
we'd to watch during the ensuing night,
for the signs he had observed; and
should he again feel the gentle tremu-
lous motion Of the floor o. the current
of air, to seize that moment for giving
audible expression TO his misery. Some
person must be near him, and within
reach of his vioce, at the instant when
his food was supplied. some one. perhaps
susceptible Of pity. Or. if not. to be
told even his apprehsnsions were just.
aud that his fate was TO be what he for
BODIED. would be preferable TO a suspense
which hung upon the possibility OF his
worst fears being visionary. al
The night came and as the hour ap-
preached when Viyenzio imagined he
might expect the sign. he stood fixed
and silent as n statue. He feared 10
breathe, almsst. lost he might lose any
sound which would warn him Of their
coming. While thus listening. with ev.
cry faculty Of mind and body strained
a a.