Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-10-21

transcend IN hendlSh malice, either the slow
death of famine, or the still slower one of soil
tary incarceration, till the last lingering spark
of life expired, or till reason fed, and nothing
should remain to perish but the brute functions
of the body
1t was evening when Vivenzio entered his
dungeon, and the approaching shades of night
wrapped it in total darkness, as he paced up
and down, revolving in his mind these horrible
forebodingS No tolng bell from castle, or
from ncighborng church or convent, struck
upon his ear to tell how the hours passed.
Frequently he would stop and listen for some
sound that might betoken the vicinity of man !;
but the solitude of the desert, the silence of
the tomb, are not so still and deep as the OPP
presSive desOlation by which he was encom-
passed. His heart sank within him, and he
threw himself dejectedly down upon his couch
of straw. Here sleep gradually obterated the
consciousness of misery, aad bland dreams watt
cd his delighted spirit to scenes which were
once glowing realities for him, in whose ravish-
ing illusions he soon lost the remembrance that
he was Tolli's prisoner.
When he awoke, it was daylight; but how
long he had slept he knew not 1t might be
early morning, or il might be sultry noon, for
he could measure time by no other note OF its
progress than light and darkness. He had
been so happy in his sleep, amid friends who
loved him, and the Sweeter endearments of those
who loved him as friends could not that in the
first moments of waking, his startled mind
seemed to admit the knowledge of his situation
as if it had burst upon it for the first time.
fresh in all its appalling horrors. He gazed
around with an air of doubt and amazement,
and took up handful of the straw upon which
he Law, as though he would ask himself what
it meant. But memory, too faithful to her Of
flee. soon unveiled the melancholy past, while
reason shuddering at the task, flashed before
his ewes the tremendous future. The contrast
overpowered him. He remained for some time
lamenting, like truth, the bright visions that
had vanished and recoiling from the present.
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
indistinctness of the preceding evening had
partially disclosed, the utter impoSslblllty 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
of water, and the dish which contained his food
had been removed from his side while he slept,
and now stood near the door. Were he even
inclined to doubt this, by supposng he had
mistaken the spot where he saw them over
night, he could not, for the pitcher now in his
dungeon was neither of the same form or color
as the other, while the food was changed for
some of better quality. He had been visited
| therefore, during the night. But how had the
person obtained entrance? Could he have
slept so Soundy that unlocking and opening
of those pOuderOus portals were effected with
out waking him He would have said this
was not possible, but that in doing so, he must
admit greater difficulty, an entrance by 9th
er means, of which he was convinced there
existed none 1t was not intended, then, that
he should be left to perish from hunger. But
the secret and mysterious mode OF supplying
him with food, seemed to Indicate he was to
have no opportunity of communicating with o
human being.
The other circumstance which had attracted
his notice, was the disappearance, as he be-
lieved of one of the seven grated windows that
ran along the top Of his prison. lie felt
confident that he had observed and counted
them: for he was rather surprised at their
humber, and there was something peculiar in
their form, as well as in the manner OF their
arrangement, at unequal distances 1t was so
much easier however, to suppose he was mis-
taken, than that portion of the solid iron,
which formed the walls, could have escaped
from its position, that he soon dismissed the
thought from his mind
Viyenzio partook of the food that was be-
l. a. | no
poiSoned: but if it were he knew he could not
escape death, should such be the design of
Tolf, and the quickest death would be the
Specdiest release
The day passed wcarly and gloomily; though
not without faint hope that, by keeping watch
at night, he might observe when the person
came again to bring him food, which he sup
posed he would do in the same way as before.
The mere thought Of being approached by a
living creature, and the opportunity it might
present of learning the doom prepared, or pre-
pairing, for him, impaired some comfort. be-
sides, if he came alone, might he not in fu-
rious onset overpower him? Or he might be
accessible to pity, or the influence of such mu-
nifcent rewards as he could bestow, If once
more at liberty and master of himself. Say
he were armed The worst that could befali
if bribe, nor prayers, nor force prevailed, was q
friendly blow, which, though dealt in damned
cause, might work desired end. There was
no chance so desperate, but it looked lovely in
Vivenzos eyes, compared with the idea OF
being totally abandoned.
The night came, and Vivenzio watched
The morning came, and Vivenzio was confound-
ed He must have slumbered without knowing
it. Sleep must have stolen over him when ex-
hausted by fatigue, and in that interval OF fe-
verish repose, he had been bailled; for there
stood his rcplenished pitcher Of water aud there
his days meal! Nor was this all. Casting
his looks towards the windows Of his dungeon,
he counted bnt FIVE! Here was no deception;