Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-02-19
-ghasily visions narrowed up his imagina-

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ready felt the dungeons ponderous roof des-
cending on him--he breathed hard and thick,
as though writhing between its iron walls
Then would he spring np-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 delrious
sleep. .a..
The morning of the fourth day dawned upon
Vivenzo; but it was high noon ere his mind
shook off its stupor, ere he awoke 10 full
consciousness of his situation And what
fixed energy of despair sat upon his pale fea-
lures, as he cast his eyes upward, and gazed
upon the THREE windows that now alone re-
mained The three there was no more =
and they seemed 10 number his own allotted
days. Slowly and calmly he next surveyed
the tops and sides, and comprehended all the
meaning of the diminished height of the for
mer as well as of the gradual approximation
Of the latter. The contracted dimensions of
his mysterious prison were now 100 gross and
palpabIe to be the juggle of his heated mag
ination. Still lost IN wonder at the means,
Vivenzio could put no cheat upon his reason,
as TO the end. By what horrible ingenuity
it was contrved, that walls, and roof and
windows, should thus silently and impercep.
tIbly, without noise, and without motion al
most. fold, as it were, within each other, he
knew not. He only knew they did so, and
he vainly slrove to persuade himself il was
the intention of the contriver to rack the mis-.
erahle wretch who might be immured there,
with anticipation, merely, Of fate, from
which, in the very crisis of his agony, he was
TO be retrieved.
GIadly would he have cInng even to this
possibility, il his heart would have let him;
but he felt dreadful assurance of its fallacy.
And what maIcIIless inhunanitv it was to
doom the sufferer TO such lingering tormens
TO lead him day by day to SO appalling
death, unsupported by the consultations of
religion, unvsited by any human being. aban-
doned 10 himself deserted by all, and denied
even the sad privilege of knowing that his
cruel destiny would awaken pity! Alone he
was 10 perish! alone lie was to wait slow
coming torture, whose most exquisite pangs
would be inflicted by that very solitude and
that 'ardy coming!
sit is not death fear he exclaimed, but
the death | must prepare for Melhinks too
| could meet even tlat-all horrible and re-
voting as il is-if it might overtake me now,
But where shall find forlrude TO tarry ill
it comes! How can outlive the three days
and nights have TO live? There is no pow
er within me TO bid the hideous spectre hence
= none 10 make ii familiar TO my thoughts
or myself, pa tient ofits errand. My thoughts,
rather, will flee from ME, and grow mad in
! looking al 1t. Oh for deep sleep to come
over me! That so, in deaths likeness, |
might embrace death itself, and drink no
more Of the cup that is presented to me, that
my faintins spirit has already tasedr
In the midst of these iameu lations Viven-
zio noticed that his accustomed meal, with
the pitcher of water, had been conveyed, as
before, into his dungeon. But this circum.
stance no longer excited his surprise. His
mind was overwhelmed with Others OF far
greater magnitude. 1t suggested, however,
feeble hope of deliverance and there is
no hope so feeble as not TO yield some sup
port to heart bending under despair. He
resolved to watch, during the ensuing hight,
for the signs he had before observed; and
should he again feel lhe gentle, tremulous
motion of the floor, Or the current of air, to
seize that moment for giving audible ex-
preston TO his misery. Some person must
be near him, and within reach of his voice.
at the instant when his food was supplied; !;
some one, perhaps, susceptible of pity. Or
if not, to be told even that his apprehensons
were just, and that his fate was to he what
he foreboded, would be preferable to sus-
pense which hung upon the possibility Of
his worst fears being visionary.
! The night came; and as the hour up.
preached when Vivenzio imagined! he might
expect the signs, he stood fixed and silent as
ii statue. He feared 10 breathe almost, lest
he might lose any sound which would warn
him Of their coming. While thus listening,
with every faculty Of mind and body strained
10 an agony of attention, it occurred to him
he should lie more sensible Of the motion,
probably, if he stretched himself along on
the iron floor. He accordingly laid himself
softly down, and had no, been long in that
position, wben-yes-he was certain of it
the floor moved under him He sprung up
and in voice nearly suffocnted with emo
ton, called aloud. He paused The motor
ceased-he felt no stream of alr-aI was
huslIed-n0 voice answered TO lls-he burst
into tears; and as he sunk TO the ground, in
renewed anguish, exclaimed - Oh, my
Lord! my Creator! you alone have power
10 save me now, or strengthen me for the
trial you permit,
Another morning dawned upon the wretched
captive and the fatal index of his doom met
} his eyes. Two windows and two days
and all would be over! Fresh food-fresh
water The mysterious visit had been paid,
though he had implored it in vain. But how
awfuily was his prayer answered in what he
now saw! The roof of the dungeon was with
In foot of his head The two ends were SO
I near, that in six PAGES he trod the space be-
; tween them. Vivenzio shuddered as he gazed,
and as his steps traversed the narrowed area
Rntb faoI,1