Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-04-10

with emotion, called 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 anguish exclaimed:
"Oh, my God! my God You alone have
power to save me now, or strengthen me for
the trial you permit"
Another morning dawnedupon the wretch
ed captive, and the fatal inoe;; of his doom
met his eyes. Two windows /! and two days /;
and all would be over! Fresh food fresh va.
ter The mysterious visit had been paid,
though he had implored it i'll vain. But how
awfully was his prayer answered in what he
new saw The roof of his dungeon was with
in foot of his head; The Gwo ends were so
near that in six PAGES he trod the space be-
tween them. Yiyenzio shuddered as he gaz-
ed, and his steps traversed the narrow area.
But his feelings no longer vented themselves
in frantic wailings. With folded arms and
clenched teeth, with eyes that were blood
shot from much watching, and fixed with q
vacant glare upon the ground, with hard,
quick breathing, and hurried walk, he strobe
backwards and forwards in silent musing for
several hours. What mind shall conceive,
what tongue shall utter, or what pen describe
the dark and terrible 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 riveted upon that part Of the wall
which was over his bed of straw. Words are
inscribed here A human language traced by
human hand He rushed towards them,
but his blood freezes as he reads:
81, Ludovico Sforze, tempted by the gold
of the Prince of Tolf, spent three years in
contriying and executing this accursed tri-
umph of nv art. When it was completed
the perfdious Tolfi, more devil than man,
who conducted me hither one morning, to be
witness, he said, of its perfection, doomed
me to be the first victim OF my perniciou.
skill, lest, as he declared, / should divulgc
the secret, or repeat the effort Of my ingenu
ity. May God pardon him, as hope he will
me, that ministered to this unhallowed pur-
pose! Miserable wreatch, who ever thou art,
fall on thy knees and invoke, as have done,
His sustaining mercy, who alone can nerve
thee to meet the vengeance of TolG armed
with his tremendous engine, which in few
wretch who made it."
A deep groan burst from Vivenzio. he
stood like one transGed, With dilated eyes,
expanded nostrils, and quiverng lips, gazing
at the fatal inscription. 1t was as il a voice
from the sepulchre had sounded in his ears
+" Prepare! p Hope forsook hiin. There Was
his sentence recorded in those dismal words.
The future stood unveiled before him. ghast,y
appalling. His brain already feels the des
cending barrow bis bones seem to crack and
crumble in the mighty grasp o. the iron walls :?
Unknowing what it is he does. he fumblcs in
his garment for some weapon Of sell dcstruc
ton. He clcnches his throat in his cdnvul-
sive grippe, as though he would straugle him
self at once, starcs upon the walls, and his
wavcring spirit demands: Will they not
anticipate their Office if dash MY head
against them % AN hyste,ical laugh chokcs
him as he excaims: g Why should it? He
was but man who died inyheir embrace and
| should be less than man lot to DO as much.
Tue evening sun was descending, aud
Vivenaio beheld its golden beams streaming
through one OF the Windows. What thrill
Of Joy Shot through his soul ut the sight |! 1t
was n precious link, that united him, for the
moment, to the world beyond. There was
ecs,acy in the thought. As lie gazed long
aud earnestly, i. seemed as if the windows
had lowered sufficiently for Kim to reach them.
With one bound lie was beneath theIn-with
one wild spring he clnng 10 the bars. Wlcth.
er it was so conirived, purroscly to madden
with delight the wretch wht, locked, he knew
not but at the extremity of o long VISTA Cat
through the solid rock, the ocean, the sky,
the setting sun, olive groves, shady walks,
and in the distance, delicious glimpsos o.
magnificent S,ci!: tarat upon his view. How
exquisite was The cold brrtze as it swept
across his cheek, loaded with fragrance. He
inhaled it as though it were the breath OF
continued life And there was freshness in
the landscape, ami in the rlppinss Of the
calm green sea, that fell upon his wthcriug
heart like dew upon The parched eaith. How
he gaz,d and painted, and still chung TO his
hold sometimes hanging by: one had, some
times by the other, and then gr.sping the
bar with kat,,, as il lu;h 10 quit the smiling
paradise stretched cut before him; till cx
haustcd, and his hand swollen and benumL
ed, he dropped down, and lay stunned for
some time by The fall.
When he recovered, the glorious vision h:d
vanished. lie was in the darkness. He
doubted whetherit was rot Il. dream tha: pass
ed before his sleepy tancg ;gt gradually his
scattered thoug hls retIris'i, aud with them
cane remembrance. Yes, ho had looked
once again upon the gorgeous splcndor of na-
tare. Once again his eyes had trcmbled be-
meath their yelled lids at the SUMS radiance,
and auugiit repHao III tho sot ysrdnre of the
o!Yc tree, or the gentle swell of uuduialing
waves. 0h, that he were a mariner, exposed
upon those waves to the worst fury of the
storm and tempest; or Il very wretch, loath-
some with disease plague stricken, and his
b3dy one lcprous c9ntasion from crown 10
sole, hunted forth to gush ort the remnant of
infectious life heueath those vcrdaat trees,
so he might shun the destiny upon whose
edge he tottered.
Vain thoughts like these would steal over
his mind from time To time. in spite Of him
self but they scarcely IN ycd it from that
slupor into which it had SINK, and which
kept him, for tie whole night like one drug
gcd with opium. he was equally insen.iblc
to The calls Of hunger and Of thirst. though
The third dav was now GoE:Tea qing since even
D drop or water Fad passed bis lips. He re-
naned on the ground, sonnet mes standing,
lying at intervals sleeping heavi-
y, and when mot sleeping, silently brooding
over what was to come, and talking aloud, in
liserdered Speech Of his wrongs. o! Lis homo,
ind OF those ho loVed.
In this pitiable condition the sixth and last
morning dawned upon Vivcnzo, if dawn it
night be called-the dim obscure ligh! which
ainty struggled through the one solitary
window Of his dungeon. He could hardly he
aid to NOTICE the melancholy token. And
'et he sid notice iti for, as he raised his
yes, and saw this p,rtentous sign, there was
slight censulsivs distortion OF his eounten-
nee. But what did attract his notice, and
t the sight of which his agitation was cxces. Z