Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-03-05

met MS eyeA Two Wlnoov91-And ttc0 days
and all would be over, fresh, food-fresh
water! The mysterious visit had been paid,
though he had implored It in vain. But how
awfaly was his prayer answered in what he
saw! Tho root Of his dungeon was within
foot Of his head. The two ends were, %
near. that in six PAGES lie ttod betwsen them.
Vivenzio shuddered as he ga1ed, and q his
steps traversed the narrowed area. But Bis
feelings no longer vented themselves IA fran
tic wailings. With folded arms and tlsnched
teeth. with eys that were bloodshot with much
watching, and fixed with vacant glare upon
the ground, with hard quick breathing, and
hurried walk, he strobe backwards and for.
wards in silent musings for several hours.
What mind shall conceive, what tongue ut-
ter, or what pen describe the dark and terri.
ble character of his thoughts! Like the fate
that moulded them, they had no similitude in
the wide range Of this worlds agony for man.
Suddenly he stopped, and his eyes were rivet-
ed upon that part of the wall which was over
his bed of st aw. Words are inscribed here
Ahuman language traced by human hand
He rushes towards them but his blood
freezes as he reads:-
81, Ludovico Sforza. tempted by the gold
of the Prince of Tolf. spent three years in
contriving and executing this accursed tri-
umph Of my art. When il was completed,
the per6dious Tolf, moro devil than mar,
who conducted me hither one morning, to be
witness. as he said, of its perfection, doomed
me to be the first victim of my own pernicious
skill lest, as he declared, should divulge
the secret, or repeat the effort of my ingenuity.
May God pardon him, as / hope hs will me,
that ministered to his unhollowed purpose
Miserable wretch, whoe'er thou art, that read.
est these few lines. fall ON thy knees, and in
woke as have done, His sustaining mercy,
who alone can nerve thee to meet the ven
gence of Tolf, armed with q tremendous en-
CINE. which in few hours must crush yox, as
it will the needy wretch who made it,"
A deep groan burst from Vivenzio. He
stood, like one trans6xed, with dilated eyes,
expanded nostrils. and quivering lips. gazing |
at this fatal inscription. It was as If voice |
from the s.pulchrs had sounded in his ears,
" Prepared" Hope forsook him. There was
his sentence, recorded in those dismal words. |
The future stood unveiled before him, ghasily |
and appalling. His brain already feels the |
decending horror-his bones seemed to crum.
bic and crack in the mighty grasp Of the iron
walls. Unknowing what it is he does, he fnm>
bles in his garment for some weapon Of self
destruction. He clenched his throat in his
convulsive grippe. as though he would stran-
gle himself at once. He stares upou the walls,
and his warning spirit demands, I" Will they
not anticipate their Office i'll dash my head
against them r An hysterical laugh thokcs |
him as he exclaims, "why should II He
was but man who died first in their fierce
embrace; and / should be less than man not
to do as much!"
The evening sun was descending, and vi
venzio brheld its golden beanie streaming
one of the windows. What thrill of joy
shot through bis soul at the sight 1t was a
precious link that united him, for that moment.
with the world beyond. There was ecstacy
in the thought. As he gazed, long and car
nestly, it seemed as If the windows had low.
cred sufficiently for him to reach them. With
one bound he was benearh them-with one
wild spring he clung to tho bare. Whether
it was convtrived purpossly to madden with
delight the wretch who looked, he knew not
but at the extremity Of long vista, cut
| through the solid rock, the ocean, the eky,
the setting sun. olive groves. shady walks,
and. in the farthest distance, delicious gIimpseR
of magnificent Sicily, burst upon his sight: |
How exquisite was the cool breeze "a it swept
across his cheek. loaded with fragrance. He
| inhaled it as though it was the breath Of con-
tinued life. And there was feshuess In the
landscape, and in tho hppling Of the calm
gre.n sea, that fell upon bis withered heart
heart like dew upou the parched earth. How
he gated, and painted, and still clung to his
hold sometimes hanging by one hand, soms.
times by the other, and then graspin6 the
| L. III Aosl 1~Sk a. n,.sS ~ svns1s.asp
paradise out.s:retchcd before him; till ex-
haustad. and his hands swollen and bsnumbed.
hs dropped helpless down, and lay stunned
for considerable time by the fall.
When he recovered. the glorious vision had
vanished. He was In darkness. He doubt
ed whether il was not dream that had passed
before his sleeping fancys but gradually his
scattered thoughts returned. aud with them
came remembrance. Yes! he ha6 looked
once again upon tho gorgeous splsndor Of ma.
nature Oncs again bis eyes had tremblsd
beneath their lids At the Gums radiance, and
sought repose in the soft verdure Of the olive
trees, or the gentle swell Of undulating waves.
Oh, that he were mariner, EXPOSED on those
waves to the worst fury Of the STORM apd tenn
pest 81 q very wretch, loathsome with dis.
ease, plague-sfricken, and his body one lsp-
rous contagion from crown to sole, hunted
forth to gasp out the remnant Of infections
life benesrh those verdant trees, 80 he might
shuu the destiny upon whose edge he tottefed.
Vain thoughts like these would steal over
his mind from time TO time. in spite Of him:
self; but they scarcely moved It from that
stupot into which it had sunk, and which
kept him. during the whole night, like one
who had been druged with opium. He Wab
equally insensible ID the calls Of hunger and