The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-09-22

ana silent us statue. lie feared to
breathe, almost, lest he might lose any
sound which would warn him of their
coming. While thus listening, with
every faculty of mind and body strain
cl to an agony of attention, it occurred
to him he should be moro sensible of the
motion, probably, if he stretched him
self along the iron floor. He according
ly laid himself softly down, and had
not been long in that position when--ycs
he was certain of 1.-THE floor moved
under him! lie spranG up, and in a
voice suiiocated nearly with emotion,
called aloud. lie pauscd-thc motion
ceasod--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 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 dawncd upon the
wretchcd captive, and the fatal index of
his doom met his eyes. Two windows!
and tro days-and all would be over!
Fresh fOOd-lresh water! The mystcri-
GUS visit had been paid, though he had
implorcd it in vain. But how awfully
was his prayer answered in what he
now saw! The roof of the dungeon was
within foot of his head. The two ends
were so near that in six PAGES he trod
the space between them. Nivcn2io shud-
dercd as he gazed, and Us his steps trav-
ersed the narrow area; but his feelings
no longer vented themselves in frantic
wailings. With folded arms and clench-
ed teeth with eyes that were blood
shot with much watching, and fixed
with Il vacant glare upon the ground /;
with n hard, quick breathing, and a
hurried walk--hc strobe backward and
| forward in silent musing for several
hours. What mind shall conceive, what
tongue utter, or what pen describe the
dark and terrible character of his
thoughts? Like the fate that moulded
| them they had no simiitudc in the wide
range of this worlds agony for man.
suddenly he stopped, and his cycs were
riVctcd upon that part Of the wall which
was over his bed Of straw. Words are
inscribed there! a human language,
trace by human hand! He rushed
toward them; but his blood freezes IL
| he reads:
81, LudovicO Sfor2a, tempted by the
gold Of the Prince OF Folii, spent three
years in contriving and executing this
accused triumph OF my art. When il
was completed, the perfidious Tolf,
more devil than man, who conducted
me hithCr one morning to be witness, as
he said, Of its perfection, doomed me
to be the victim of my own pernicious
skill; lest, as he declared, | should Iii
Vulge the secret, or repeat the effort Of
my ingenuity. May God pardon him,
rs | hope He will me, that ministercd to
his unhal!owed purposes. Miserable
wretch, whoever thou art, that rcade3t
these lines fall on thy knees, and invoke,
IL | have done, His sustaining mercy
who alone can nerve thee to meet the
vengeance of TOlh, armed with this tre-
mcndous engine which, in a few hours,
must crush yoU, as it will the needy
wretch who made it,"
\ deep groan burst from Nivcnzio.
He stood, like one transfNod, with di-
lated eyes, expanded nOstrils, and quiV-
ering lips, gazing ut this fatal inscrip-
ton. 1t was as if voice from a sepul-
chrc had sounded in his ears, "I're-
pare" Hope forsoo< him. There Wa,
his sentence, recorded in those dismal
words. The future stood unveiled be-
fore him, CHASTITY and appalling. His
brain already feels the descending hor-
ror; his bones seem to crack and crum-
BILE in the mighty grasp of the iron
walls! EnkuuWiug what it is he does,
he fumbles in his garment for some
weapon Of svll-dcstructiOn. He Clcnch-
cS his throat in his convulaive gripc, as
though he would etranTlc himself at
once. He sture5 upon the walls; and
his warning spiri, demands, VIII they
pnt anticipate their Office if | dash my
head against them ~ An hystcrical
laugh chOlics him Il, he eXclaims, "Why
should |? lie was but il 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
Nivenzio bchold its golden beam.
through one of the windows. What :
thrill of joy shot through his soul at thC
sight! 1t was precious link that unit
cd him, for the moment, with the wOrlC
beyond. There was ecstacy in the
thought.
As he ga2cd, long and earnestly, i
seemed as if the windows had lowered
sufficient for him 10 reach them. Wit
one bound he was beneath them; witt
one wild spring he clung to the bars
Whether it was 80 contriVed purposel,
to madden with delight the wretch VIII,
/ looked, he knew not; but, Mt the eX
! tremity of Il long vista cut through th
; soil rocks, theogean, the sky, the sctlin
sun, the olive groves, shady walks, and
= in the iarthe-t distance, delicious @limp-
e. es Of magnificent Sicily, burst upon hi
sight. How exquisite was ths 800
, breeze rs it swept across his check, load
ed with fragrance! lie inhaled it Il
1 though it were the breath Of contin
J ued fife. And there was q freshness il
, the landscape, and in the rippling Of tn
= calm, green sea, that fell upon his with
Q cring heart like dew upon the p9rchcD
t earth. How he gazcd, and painted, an,