Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-02-19
THE STORY TELLER.
THE IRON SHROUD,
ITALIAN VENG nee

- - - -
The Castle of the Prince of Tolf was built
on the summit of the towering and precipitous
rock of Scylla, annd commanded a splendid
view of Sicily in all its grandeur; and here, in
dungeon, excavated deep in the solid rock,
the miserable victim was immured, whom re-
venge pursued-the dark, fierce and Implying
revenge of an Italian heart.
Vivenzio-the noble and the generous, the
fearless in battle, and the pride of Naples in
her sunny hours of peace-the young, the
brave. the proud Vivenzio fell beneath this sub
tie and remorseless spirit. He was the pris-
oner of Tolf, and he languished in that rock
encircled dungeon, which stood alone, and
whose portals never opened twice to a living
captive.
1t had the semblance of vast cage, for the
roof, and floor and sides were of iron, solidly
wrought and spaciously constructed. High
above there ran range of seven grated win
dows guarded with massy bars of the same
metal, which admitted light and air. Save
these, and the tall folding doors beneath them,
which occupied the centre, no chink, or chasm,
or projection, broke the smooth black surface
of the walls. An iron bedstead Uttered with
straw, stood in one corner; and beside it,
vessel with water, and coarse dish filled with
coarser food
Even the intrepid soul of Vivenzio shrunk
with dismay as he entered this abode, and
II tho Ii Ead hy
the silent ruffians who conducted him TO it,
Their silence seemed prophetic of his fate
of the living grave that had been prepared for
him.
He could not hope to escape, unless he had
the power, with his bare hands, of rending
asunder the solid iron walls of his prison. He
could not hope for liberty from the relentless
character Of his enemy.
1t was evening when Vivenzio entered his
dungeon, and The approaching shades of night,
wrapped it in total darkness, as he passed up
and down, revolving in his mind these horrible
forebodings.
The stranger light Of day only served to con-
firm what the gloomy indistinctness of the pre-
ceding evening had partially disclosed-the III
ter impossibiity of escape. As, however, his
eyes wandered round and round, and from
place to place, he noticed two circumstances
which excited his surprise and curiosity. The
one, he thought, might be fancy; but the other
was positive. His pitcher of water, and the
dish which contained his food, had been re-
moved from his side while he slept, and now
stood near the door. He had been visited
therefore during the night. But how had the
person obtained entrancc1 Could he have
slept so soundly that the unlocking and open
ing of those ponderous portals were effected
withont waking him1 He would have said this
vas not possible, but that in DUNG so, he must
admit greater difficulty, an entrance by other
means, of which he was Convinced there exis-
ted none.
The other circumstance which attracted his
notice, was the disappearance, as he believed,
of one of the seven grated windows, that ran
along the top of his prison. He felt confident
that he had observed and counted them; for he
was rather surprised at their number, and there
was something peculiar in their form as well
as in the manner of their arrangement, at une-
quail distances. 1t was SO much easier, how
ever, to suppose he was mistaken, than that a
portion of the solid iron, which formed the
walls, could have escaped from its position,
that he soon dismissed the thought from his
mind
Vivenzio partook of the food that was before
him, without apprehension. 1t might be poi
soned; but if it were, he knew he could not es-
cape death, should such be the design of rolf,
and the quickest death would be the speediest
release.
The day passed off wearily and gloomily !;
though not without faint hope that, by keep
ing watch at night, he migh observe when the
person came again TO bring him food, which he
supposed he would do in the same way as be-
fore. The mere thought of being approached
by living creature, and the opportunity i,
might present of learning the doom prepared
or preparing for him, impaired some comfort
Besides, if he came alone, might he not in a
furious onset overpower himl Or might he
be accessible to pity, the influence of such
mun6cent rewards he could bestow, il
once more at liberty and master of himself
Say he were armed The worst that could
befal, if neither bribe, nor prayers, nor force
prevailed, was faithful blow. which, though
dealt in wretched canse, might work out a
desired end. There was chance SO des-
perate, but it looked lovely in Vivenzio's eyes
compared with the idea of being totally aban.
doned.
The night came, and Vivenzio watched -
Morning came, and Vivenzio was confounded
He must have slumbered without knowing it
Sleep must have stolen over him when exhaus
ted by fatigue, and in that interval of feverist
repose, he had been baff1ed for there stooe
his repleuislled pitcher of water, and there hi:
days meal! Nor was this all. Casting hi
eyes towards the windows of his dungeon. he
counted but FIVE! Here was no deception -
and he was now convinced that there had beer
none the day before. But what did all this
portend! Into what strange and mysteriou.
den had he been cast1 era lre .s,,..1.o,.
r. It was evident there must be some secret ma
chinery in the wall BY which a person coulc
enter. He inspected them closely. They ap-
peared TO him one solid and compact mass O
iron or Joined, if joined they were, with such