Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1855-02-24

capuYe, ana the fatal index of his doom met
eyes. Two windows, and two days; and
would be overi Fresh food. fresh water IT
/ mysterious visit had been paid, though he h;
, lmplored it in vain. But how awfully was h
: prayer anwered in what he now saw? IT
, roof of his dungeon was within foot of h
head. The two ends were so near that in s.
PAGES he trod the space between them Vivel
zlo shuddered as he gazed, and his steps trs
versed the narrow area. But his feelings n
longer vented themselves in frantic wailng
With folded arms and clenched teeth, with eye
that were bloodshot from much watching, an
fixed with vacant glare upon the ground, wit
a hard, quick breathing, and hurried walk, b
strobe backwards and forwards in silent mu
sing for several hours. What mind shall con
celve, what tongue shall utter, or what pen des
crlbe the dark and terrible character of hi
thoughts! Like the fate that moulded them
they had no similitude in the wide range of th
worlds agony for man. Suddenly he stopped
and his eyes were riveted upon that part Of tn.
wall which was over his bed of straw Word,
are inscribed here! A human language traced
by human hand! He rushed towards them
but his blood freezes as he reads:
q, Ludovico Sorze, tempted by the gold OF
the Prince of Tol6, spent three Yeas in con.
irving and executing this accursed triumph of
nay art. When il was completed the perfidious
Iolh, more devil than man, who conducted me
hlther one morning, to be witness, he said, of
its perfection, doomed me to be the first victim
of my pernicious skill, lest, as he described,
should dlvulge the secret, or repeat the effort
of my ingenuity. May God pardon him, as
hope ne will me, that ministered to this unIlal-
lowed purpose! Miserable wretch, who ever
thou art, fall on thy knees and Invoke, as have
done, His sustaining mercy, who alone oan
nerve thee to meet the vengence of Tolfi, arm.
ed with his tremendous engine, which in a few
hours must crush you, as it will the needy
wretch who made it,"
A deep groan burst from Vivenzio. He stood
like one transhxed, with dilated eyes, expan-
ded nostrlls, and quivering lips, gazing at this
fatal inscription. 1t was as if voice from the
sepulchre had sounded in his ears "Prepare!"-
Hope forsook him. There was his sentence
recorded in those dismal words. The future
stood unveiled before him, ghastly and appal-
ling. His brain already feels the descending
harrow; his bones seem to crack and crumble
in the mighty grasp Of the iron walls. Un>
knowing what it is he does, he fumbles in his
garment for some weapon of sef-destruction
He clenches his throat in his convusive gripe,
as though he would strangle himself at once,
stares upon the walls and his waverng spirit
demands: "Wih they not anticipate their office
if dash my head against them!" An hyteri-
cal laugh chokes him as he exclaims "Why
should Il He was but man who died FIRST in
their embrace; and should be less than man
not TO do as much!"
The evening sun was descending, and vi.
venzio beheld its golden beams streaming thro'
one Of the windows. What thrill of joy
shot through his soul at the sight! 1t was a
precious link that united him for the moment
to the world beyond. There was ecstacy in
.he thought. As he gazed long and earnestly
t seemed as if the windows had lowered suffi-
,iently for him to reach them. With one SIN
gle bound he was beneath them-with one wild
spring ne clsng TO the bars Whether it was
20 contrived purposey to madden with delight
he wretch who looked, he knew not; but at
he extremity of long vista, cut through the
'olid rock, the ocean, the sky. the setting sun,
olive groves, shady walks, and in the distance,
delicious glimpses of magnificent Sicily burst |
lpon his view. How exquisite was the cool
'reeze as it swept across his cheek, loaded |
With fragrance. He inhaled it as though it |
we're the breath of continued life. And there
vas freshness in the landscape and in the |
ipplings Of the calm green sea, that fell upon
lis whitening heart like dew upon the parched
arth. How he gazed and painted, and still
lung to his hold; sometimes hanging by one
and, sometimes by the other, and then grasp
ng the bar with both, as if 10th to quit the
milling paradise stretched out before him; till /
Exhausted, and his hands swollen and benumb-
d, he dropped down, and lay stunned for some
me by the fall.
But here let us turn from this dreadful scene
t human suffering and human vengeance, to
ne of not much less intensity, in either res
ect, yet of far different character.
1t is night in Naples-and amidst the bright
; Illuminated castles of the great, we will en-
n that of the young and beautiful Countess
. POrme, an only child, whose mourning ha-
iments had not yet been thrown aside for the
ss of parents upon whom her Young heart
oted. But another sorrow of perhaps greater
agnitude was now rackng her brain.
She had visitor on that night-a tall, dark,
vengeful looking man. They were alone in
Re downy carpeted and perfumed saloon--and
e pink colored crystal lights threw mellow,
xurious sweetness on all the magnifcence
her princely apartment.
The hostess, the beautiful being who was
q mistress Of so much wealth and grandeur,
as treading her velvet floor with an agonized
ind-she wrung her hands in hopelessness,
bile a deathly palor and agitation overspread
II features. Her visitor, immovabIe as sta.
e, and with a dreadful determination upon
5 countenance, as he stood with folded arms
d defiant posture, was about taking his leave
I the last time. /,
"Ah! we'll may sorrow wiring thy heart" said
/. ''for thou art sentencing to miserable
ath one who dared to foil my own burning
pes"
"Count Tol6, what is it You ask" said
9 freEzied Lucretia. "Free Vivenzio, and
= castle, my wide domain, every. vestige of {
' wealth is thine" -
aNo, Lucretia," said he in low, calm but II
m tone; II ask that which thou eanst give, .
d which all the wealth of the Indies couldst
4 nnrchase-thv handin F,