Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-10-12

|
which he lay, as though he would ask himself
what it meant. But memory, too faithful to
her Office, soon unveiled the melancholy past
while reason sudddering at the task, flashed be-
fore his eyes the tremendous future. The con-
trast ovcrpowcred him. He remained for some
time lamenting, like truth the bright vision
that had vanished; and recoiling from the pres
ent which clung to him as poisoned garment.
When he grew more calm, he surveyed his
gloomy dungeon. Alas the stronger light Of
day only served to confirm what the gloomy in
tistinctness of the proceeding evening had par
tally disclosed, the utter impossibility of es-
cape. As, however, his eyes wandered round
and round, and from place to place, he noticed
two circumstances which excited bis surprise
and curiosity The one, he tlzal1nbs mighaboa a.
fancy; but the other, was positive. His pitcher
of water, and the dish which contained his food
had been removed from bis side while he slept,
and now stood near tie door. Were he even
inclined to doubt this, by supposing he had mis-
taken the spot where he saw them over night,
he coald not, for the pitcher now in lis dun
geon was neither of the same form or color as
the other, while the food was changed for some
other Of better quality. lie had been visited
therefore during the night. Bnt had the person
obtained entrance! Could he have slept SO
soundly, that unlocking and opening of those
pondcrous portals were effected without waking
himl lie would have said this was not posi-
BILE, but that in doing so, he must admit great
er difficult, an entrance by other means, which
he was convinced there existed none. 1t was
not intended, then, that he should be left to per-
ish from hunger. But the secret and myseri-
GUS mode of supplying him with food, seemed
to Indicate he was to have no opportunity Of
communicating with human being.
The other circumstance which had 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 observed and counted; for he was
rather surprised at their number, and there was
something peculiar in their form, as we'll us in
the manner Of their arrangement, at equal dis
tances. IL was so much easier, however, to SUP
pose he was mistaken than that u portion Of
the solid iron, whicl! formed the walls eould
have escaped from its position, that he soon dis
missed the thought from his mind
Vivenzio partook Of the food that was before
him without apprehension. 1t might be lois-
oncd but If it were, he knew he could not
escape DEATH should such be the desi IN of Tolf;
and the quickest death wonld be the spoedicst
release.
The-day passed wearily and gloomly; tho
not without II faint hope that, by keeping watch
at night he nightobscrvc when the person came
again to bring him food, which he supposed h,
would do in the same way as before. The mere
thought of bcing approached by a living crea
ture, and the opportunity it might present Of
learning the doom prepared, or preparing, fol
him, impaired some comfort. Besides, il HI
came alone, might he not in furons onset
overpower him z! Or he might be accessible t,
pity, or the influence Of such muniGcent re
wards as he could bcstow, if once more at liher
ty and master of himself. IF he was armed
the worst that could befall, if nctlcr bribo
nor prayers nor force prevailed, was a faithful
blow, which though dealt in damned cause
might work desired end There was no clanc
30 desperate but it looked lovely in Viyen
zio eyes compared with the idea of being to
tally abandoned.
Morning came, and Vivonzio was coniounded
He must have slumbcred without knowing it,
Sleep must have stolen over him when exhaust
ed by fatigue, and in that interval of feveris
repose he had been baAled for there stood hi
replcnished pitcher of water, and there hi
days meal. Nor was this ALL Casting hi
looks towards the windows of his dungeon, h
counted but FIVE IIore was no deception
and he was now convinced there had been non
the day before But what did all this portend
Into what strange and mysterious den had h
been cast! He gazed till his eyes ached; h
could discover nothing to explain the mystery
That it was SO, he knew. Why it was so h
racked his imaginations in vain to conjectur,
He examined the doors. A single circumstanC
convinced him they had not been opened.
A wisp of straw, which he had carclessl
thrown against them the preceding day, as l.
paced to and fro, remain where he had cast i
though it must have been displaced by Il
slightest motion of either of the DOORS I'll
was evidence that could not be disputed al
it followed there must be some secret machinel
in the wall by which person could enter. l.
inspected more closely They appeared to hi
one solitary and compact mass OF iron;
joined, if .joired they were, with such nice ar
that no mark of division was perceptible.-
? Again and again he surveyed thcm-And tt
Aoor--and the roof-and the range of visiona
windows, as. he was now almost tempted to co
slider them he could discover nothing, absolut
= " nothing, to relieve his doubts or satisfy f
e curiosity. Sometimes he fancied that altogeth
+; the dungeon had more contracted appcaran
G that it looked smaller; but this he ascrib
g to fancy, and the impression naturally produc
IS upon his mind by the undeniable disappoaran
Il Of two Of the windows.
p With intense anxiety, Vivenzio looked ft
s. ward to the return Of night; and as it approac
d cd he resolved that no treacherous sleep shou
l. again betray hi n. Instead Of seeking his b
n of straw, he contrived to walk up and down
dungeon till daylight, straining his eyes in eve
direction through the darkness, to watch
W any appearances that might explain these IN,
~ teries. While thus engaged, and as nearly
er he could Judge, (by the time that afterwal