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

and-thrty hours. lie was faint with hunger
weary with watching, and with the excess of
his emotions lie tasted of his food; he drank
with avidity Of the water; and reeng like a
drunken man to his straw, cast himself upon it
to brood again over the appalling image that
had fastened itself upon his almost frenzied
thoughts.
He slept but his slumbers were not tranquil
He resisted, as long as he could, their approach !:
and when, at last, enfeebled nature yielded to
their influence, he found no oblivion from his
cares Terrible dreams haunted him--ghaStly
visions narrowed up his imaginaton-h shout
ed and screamed. as if he already felt the dun
gcon's poGderous roof descending on hm-he
brcathed hard and thick, as though writhing
between its iron walls. Then he would spring
up-stare wildly about him-stretch forth his
hands, to be sure he yet had space enough to
llve-and, muttering some incohCrcnt words,
sink down again, to pass through the same
fierce vicissitudcs of delirionS sleep.
The morning Of the fourth day dawned upon
Nivenzio But it was high noon before his
mind shook off its stupOr or he awokc TO n full
consciousness of his situation. And what
fixed energy of despair sat upon his pale fea
lures, as cast his eyes upwards, and ga2ed upon
the THREE windows that now alone remained! !
The three!- There were nc more and they
seemed to number his own allotted days.
Slowly and calmly he next surveyed the tops
and sides, and comprchended the meaning of
the diminished height of the former, as we'll as
of the gradual approximation of the latter
The contracted dimensions Of his mysterious
prison were now too gross and palpabIe to be
the juggle of his heated imagination. Still lost
in wonder at the means, NiyenZio 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 impercCptibly, without noise, land without
motion almost, fold, as it were, within each
other he knew not lie only knew they did
so; and he vainIy strove to persuade himself it
was the intention of the contriver to rack the
miserable wretch who might he immurcd there
with anticipation, merely Of a fate, from which,
in the very crisis of his agony, he was to be
reprieved
Gladly would he have cIung even to this
possibility, if his heart would have let him :;
but he felt a dreadful assurance of its fallacy.
And what mate bless inhumanity it was to doom
the sufferer to such lingering torments, to lead
him day by day to so appalling a death, un-
supported by the consultations of religion, un-
visited by any human being, abandoned to
himself, deserted of ALL and denied even the
sad privilege of knowing that his cruel destiny
would awaken pity! Alone he was to perish!
alone he was to wait slow coming tor.
ture, whose most exquisite pangs would he in
aicted by that very solitude and that tardy
coming!
" 1t is not death fear" he exclaimed. "but
the death | must prepare forl Methnks, too,
| could even meet that-all horrible and re-
voting as it is-if it might overtake me now
But where shall find forttude to tarry till it
come ? How can | outlive the three long davs
and nights | have to live There is no power
within me to bid the hideous spectre hence
none to make it familiar to my thoughts; or
myself, patient of its errand My thoughts,
rather will flee from me, and | grow mad in
looking at it. Oh, for a deep sleep to fall up
on me! That so, in deaths likeness, | might
embrace death itself, and drink no more of the
cup that is presented to me, than my fainting
spirit has already tasted!'
In the midst of these lamentations, Viyenzio
noticed that his accustomed meal, with the
picther of water, had been conveyed as before,
into his dungeon. But this circumstance no
longer excited his surprise. His mind was
overwhelmed with others of n far greater mag
nitude 1t suggested, however, q feeble hope
of deverance and there Is no hope so feeble
as not to yield some support to u heart bend
ing under despair. lie resolved to watch, du-
ring the ensuing night, for the signs he had be
fore observed !; and should he again feel the
gentle, tremuIouS motion of the floor, or the
4 OH tn e.,
audible expression to his misery. Some per.
son must be near him, and within reach of his
voice, at the instant when his food was sup
piled F.; some one, perhaps, susceptible Of pity
Or if not, to be told even that his apprehen-
sions were just, and that his fate to be what
he forGbOded, would be preferable to a SuS-
pcnSe which hung upon the possibility of his
worst fears being visionary.
The night came and as the hour approach
ed when Nivenzio imagined he might expect
the signs, he stood fixed and silent as statue
He feared to breathe, almost, lest he might
lose any sound which would warn him of their
coming. While thus listening, with every fac
ulty of mind and body strained to an agony Of
attention, it occurred to him he should be more
sensible of the motion, probably, if he stretch
ed himself along the iron floor. He accord
ingly laid himself softly down, and had not
been long in that position when-yes, he was
certain of 1.-THE floor moved under him lie
sprang up, and in Il voice suilocated ncarlywith
emotion, called out. He pauCed-the motion
ccaSed-he felt no stream of air-a was hush
ed-no voice answered his-he burst into tears
and sank on the ground, in renewed anguish,
exclaimed" Oh, my God my God You
alone have power to save me now, or strength
en- me for the trial you permit"
Another morning dawned upon the wrctchcd
captive, and the fatal index of his doom met
his eyes. Two windows!-and tr0 days-and
ali would be overl Fresh food-frcsh water!
The mysterious visit had been paid, though he
had implored it in vain. But how awluIly was
his prayer answered in what he now Sawl The