Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-08-26
THRILLING SKETCH.


sensation items from Russia. Here is an
instance from his own experiences, in the
highest order of the French school of in
tensity;
We left the room with tie turnkey be-
hind us, and walked on i8fi w. found
ourselves opposite the pr-i-'f. The gaoI.
er opened il. went in and sglied a I.nt-
ern. We loi!7wed, We snt down ten
steps, passed row of Dungeons. then
down ten more. but did rsbt stop. We
went down Eve more, ard then stopped
at The one marked No. II. lie gave
silent sigaaI i seemed ii fliis abode Of
the dead Is i he had lost tte power of
speech. There was at this time frost
of at least twenty degrees outside. AT
the depth where we found ourselves it
was mingled with damp which pene-
trated to the bone; my marrow vas fro
zen, and yet I wiped the perspiration
from my brow. The door opened, we
went down six damp and slippery steps,
and found ourselves in dungeon of six
square feet. | fancied by the light of
the lantern, that saw a human form
moving in it. The governor remained
on the last step and said to the prisoner,
Rise and dress YOURSELF
! had a curiosity to know to whom this
order was addressed.
Turn on the light said | to the
gaoler.
I then saw thin and palld old man
rise up. He had evidently been immur-
ed in this dungeon in the same clothes
he had on when arrested, but they had
fallen off him piecemeal, and lie was only
dressed in a ragged pelisse. Through
the rags. his naked, bony, shivering body
could be seen. Perhaps this body had
been covered with splendid garments
perhaps the ribbons Of most noble orders
had once crossed his painting chest. A
present he was only a living skeleton
that had lost rank, dignity, name, anC
was called No. II. He rose, and wrap
ped himself in the fragments of his rag
4 god rali-~~. -~ithout uttering complaint
his body vas bowed down, conquered b,
prison damp, time-it might be hunger
His eye was naughty, almost fnenaoing
1T is good said the governor
Come
He was the first to 60 out.
The prisoner threw a parting glanc
on his cell, his stone bench, his water jug
and rotten straw. He uttered sigh
yet it was impossible that he could re
} gret anything of this. He followed til
: governor, and passed before me.
I 1 shall never forget the glance he turn
i ed upon me in passing, and the reproac
: that was concentrated in it.
e So young it seemed TO say an
e already obeying tyranny
| turned away that glance had piel
= ced my heart like dagger He passe
the door Of the dungeon. How long ";
it since he entered il? Perhaps he di
9 not know himself He must have cease
for long time counting days aud night
} On reaching the governor door we foun
two sleighs waifing The prisoner WI
ID ordered into the one that had broug
: US, and we followed him, the governs
ID by his side, l in front. the other sledt
ID was occupied by four soldiers.
le Where we're we going? / knew NJ
l. What were we going to do? | was equi
p ly ignorant. | had only to see 1.-The q
tion itself did not concern me.
We started.
: Through my position, the old maj
knees were between mine. felt tht
! tremble. The governor was wrap
in his furs. was buaoned up in
military frock, and yet the cold rea,
ed US. The prisoner was almost max
- but the governor had offered him
Il coverings. For a moment | thought
= taking off my coat and Offering it
him.
The governor guessed my intention
- 1T is not worth while,' he said.
'nd Soon we reached the Naya again,
yea our sIedge TODD the direction of Or
IN stradt. The wind came of the Ba
''1I and blew furiously; the sleet cut
Inc faces. Though our eyes had become
'er- customed 10 the darkness. We could
'ro- see ten yards before Us.
AT last we stopped ia the midst
furious storm. We must have /
,ha about league and half IRON St.
-. ersbarg. The governor got off
rsra sledge, and went to the other. The
- diers had already got off, holding the
they had heen ordered 10 bring.