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


for six aud thirty hours. He was faint with
hunger; weary with watching, and with the
excess Of his emotions. He tasted Of his food
h" drank with avidity of the water; and
reeled like drunken man to his straw, cast
himself upon it to brood again over the ap.
palling image that had fastened itself upon
his almost frenzied thoughts.
He slept. But his slumbers were not tran.
quill. He resisted, as long as he could, their
approach; aud when, at last, enfsebled nature
yielded TO their influence, he found no oblivion
from his cares. Terrible dreams haunted
him-ghastly visions narrowed up his imag.
ination-he shouted and screamed, as if he al
ready felt the dungeons ponderous roof de-
scending on him-he brcathed hard and thick,
as though writhins between its iron walls.
Then would he spring up-stare wildly about
hm-stretch forth his hand to be sure he vet
had space to live-and, muttering some inco-
herent words. sink down again, to pass
through the same fierce vicissitudcs Of deliri-
Gus sleep.
The morning of the fourth day dawned
upon Vivenzio. But it was high noon before
his mind shook off its stupor, or lie awoke to
a full consciousness of his situation. And
what fixed energy of despair sat upon his
pale features, as he cast his eyes upwards, and
gazcd upon the THREE windows that now
alone remained The three there were no
more !-and they seem to number his own al
lottcd days. Slowly and calmly he next sur
vcyed the top and sides, and comprehended
all the meaning of the diminished height of the
former. as we'll as the gradual approximation
of the latter. The contracted dimensions of
his mysterious prison were now too gross and
palpable to be the juggle of his heated i,nag.
ination. Still lost in wonder at the means,
Vivenzio could put no cheat upon his reason,
as to the end BY what horrible ingenuity it
was constructed, that walls, and roof, and win.
dows. should thus silently and impcrceptibly,
without noise, and without motion almost,
fold, as it we're, within each other, he knew
not. IIc only knew they did so; and he
vainly strove to persuade himself it was the
intention of the contriver to rack the misera-
Bile wretch who might be immured there with
anticipation, merely of fate, from which in
the very crisis Of his agony, he was to bo re-
prieved.
Gladly would he have clung even to this
possibility. if his heart would have let him |;
but he felt dreadful assurance of its fallacy.
And what matchless inhumanity it was to
doom thu sufferer to such lingering tormcnts
to lead him day by day to so appalling a
death, unsupported by the consultations Of re-
ligiou, unvisitel by any human being. aban-
doncd 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 torture, whose mostc exquisite pangs
would br inflicted by that very solitude aud
that tardy coming
"lt is not death l fear" he exclaimed.
"but death | must prepare for Methinks.
too, could meet even that-all horrible and
revolving as it is-if it might overtake me
now. But where shall find fortitudc to tar
ry till it come How can outlive the three
long days and nights have to live2 There
is now power within me to bid the hideous
specter hcncc-none to make it familiar to
my thoughts; or myself patient of its errand.
My thoughts, rather, will flee from me, and l
grow mad in looking at it. Oh for deep
sleep to fall upon me That SO. in deaths
likeness, l might embrace death itself, and
drink no more of the cup that is presented to
me. than my fainting spirit has already tast-
ed
In the midst of these lamentations, Vivenzo
noticed that his accustomed meal, with the
pitcher of water, had been conveyed, as be-
fore, into his dungeon. But this circumstance
no longer excited his surprised. His mind
was overwhelmed with others Of far greater
magnitude. 1t suggested, however. a feeble
hope Of deiverance; and there is no hope so
feeble. IS not to yield support to heart bend
ing under despair. He resolved to watch, for
tho signs he had before observed; and should
be again feel the gentle. tremulous motion Of
the floor, or the current of air. to seize that
moment for giving audible expression to bis
misery. Some person must be near him. and
within reach OF his voice, at the instant when
his food was supplied some one. perhaps, sus-
susceptible of pity. Or If not, to b. told that
his apprphensions were just, and that his fate
was to be what he forcboded, would bs pre-
ferable to suspense which hung upon the
possibility Of his worst fears being visionary.
The night came aud as the hour approach.
I'd when Vivenzo imagined he might expect
the signs. he stood fixed and silent as statue.
He feared to breath, almost. lest he might
lose any sound which would warn him Of their
coming. While thus listening. with every
faculty Of mind and body strained to All
agony Of attention, it occurred to him he
should be more sensible Of the motion, proba-
bly,, if he stretched himeelf along the iron
floor. He accordingly laid himself softly
down, and had not been long in that position
when-yes-he was certain Of it-the floor
moved under him He sprany mp, and in Z
voice suffocated nearly with emotion, he call.
ed aloud. He paused-the motion ceased
he felt no stream of air-all was hushed-no
voice answered to his-he burst into tears
and as he sunk to the ground. in renewed an
guish. exclaimed "Oh. my God my God