The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-11-09

! their approach; and when, at last entee
/ bled nature Yielded 10 their influence, ht
/ found no oblivion from his cares Tern
Die dreams haunted him, ghastly vision
narrowed up his imagination; he sho1tet
and screamed, asif he already felt tho dun
geonG ponderous roof descending on him
lie breathed hard and thick, o though
writing between It's iron walls. Their
would he spring up, stare wildly apou'
him. stretch forth his hands 70 be sure he
vet had space enough to live, and, mutter
Inc some INDIFFERENT words, sink dow
again, TO pass through the same fierce
yiCissitudes OF delirlous sleep. j., ?;
The morning OF the fourth day dawned
upon vivenEio; but II was high noon DO
fore his mind shook of It's stupor, Or he
awoke 10 full consciousness OF bis situa
ton. And what q fixed energy Of despair
sat upon his pale features as he cast his
ewes upwards, and gaEed upon tho THREE
windows that now alone remained! The
thrcel there were no morci and they
seemed TO number his own allotted days
Slowly and calmly he next surveyed The
ton and sides, and eomprehended oil the
meaning OF the diminished height oil the
former, Us well as OF the gradual approx
imatiOn Of the latter. The contracted d.
mansions OF his mysterious prison were
now too gross and palpable to be Iuggle
OF his heated Imagination. IL
Still lost In wonder at the means, Wv
enSio could put no cheat upon his reason
rs 10 the end. By what horrible ingcnui'
ty It was conttived, that walls and roofs
and windows should thus silently and I'M
perceptibly, without noise and without
motion, almost fold, as it..werc, within
each other, he knew not lie only knew
they did so; aud he vainly Strove TO per
suade himself 1t was the intention OF the
contriycr TO rack the miserable wretch who
might be immurrcd with anticipation
merely OF fate from which, In the very
crisis Of his agony, he was TO be reprieved.
Gladly would he have clungtO even this
possibility, II his heart would have lCt
him; but he felt u dreadful assurance oil its
falIncy, and what matchless inhumanity
was Il 10 doom the sufferer TO such linger-
ing tOrinents; 10 lead him day By day to 10
appalling q death, unsupported by the con-
solutions Of religion, unvisitcd by any hu:
man being, abandoned to himself, deserted
Of all and denied OF even the sui privilege
Of knowing that his cruel destiny would
awaken pity! Alone he was to perish
Alone he WINS to wait slow coming tor
turc, whose most exquisite pangs would be
inflicted by that very solitude and that tar
dy coming.
at is not death fear" he exclaimed,
'but the death must prepare for. Nc
thinks, too, could meet even that, oil
horrible and revolving as II is,-if Il might
ovortakc mo now. But where shall | find
fortituie to tarrytill Il come! How can
outlive the three long days and nights !
have to live? There Is no power within
me to bid tic hitleous spectre hence; none
to make II familiar TO my thoughts, or
myself patient OF its GRAND. My thoughts
rather will flee from Ine,and grow mad In
looking at il. Oh! for n deep sleep to fall
upon me! That 20, In deaths likeness, l
might embrace death itsoli, and drink no
more Oft cup that Is presented to me
than my iainting spirit hasalready tastCd!"
In the midst Of these lamentations VI
vcnziO noticed that his accustomed meal,
with tho pitcher OF water, Ind been con-
vcyod, rs before, TO his dungeon. But this
circumstance 10 longer excited his sur.
prise. His mind was overwhelmed with
Others OF a far greater magnitude. II sug-
gcstcd, however, feeble hope OF deliver.
ance; and there is no hope 80 feeble as not
to yield some support 10 q heart
bending. under despair. Ho resolved
TO watch, during tho ensuing night,
for the signs he had before observed, and
should ho again feel the gentle, trcm,
ulous motion Of the floor, or tho OuTront
OF air, to seize that moment for giving aud
ible expression to his misery. Some per.
son must DO near him and within reach OF
his voice, at the instant when his food was
supplied; some ono, perhaps, susceptible
OF pity. Or, Il not, ID 10 told even that
his apprehensions were Just, and that his
fate rus to be what he foreboded, would be
preferable TO suspense which hung upon
tho possibility Of his worst fears being
visionary,
The night came; and, as tho hour ap,
preached when vlvenzlo imagined no
might expect the signs, he stood fixed and
silent as 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 strained 10 an agony Of atten.
ton, II occurred to him no should be moro
sensible Of the motion, probably II he
stretched himself along the iron floor. Iie
accordingly laid himself softly down, and
had not been long ip that position whtnz7
yes-he was certain Of lt-the floor moved
under him! llo sprang UP, and, In 0 voice
sntTocated nearly with emotion, called
aloud. lie paused--thc 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 tho ground,
in removed anguish, exclaimed 10 my
God. my God! You alone have power to
save me now, or strengthen me for the
trial you permit" ..r..a "A
Another morning ,dawncd upon the
wretGhed captive, and tho fatal index OF
his doom met his eyes Two windows!--
and hO days-and all would DO over!
Fresh fO0l-fresh water! The mysterious
visit had boon paid, though he had inlplor.
cd in vain, But how awfully was his pray
or answered. In Whist he now saw.i The
roof OF the dungeon was within q foot OF
his head. The two ends was so near that
In six naO6s no tnd tho gnaOy between
them. Nivenzi0 slluddcrod as he gazel,
aud as hissteps traycrscd the. narrow area;
but his feelings no longer vented them:
selves In frantic wallings. With folded
arms, and clenchcd teeth; with eyes that
were bOodshot from much watching, and
fixed with vacant glare upon the ground;
with . hard, quick breathing, and u hur.
ried walk,-he strotlc backward anil for
warl in silent nlusing. for several hours.
What mind shall conceive, what tongue
uttOr, or what pen describe tho dark and
terrible character OF his thoughtS2 Like
the fnte that moulded them, they had no
similitude in tho wide range Of this worlds
agony for Man. Suddenly he stopped, and
his eyes were rivete'l upon that part OF tho
wall which was over his bed OF straw.
Words are inscribed there. A human Ian.
guage, traced by human llandI lIe rlish-
~ toward them; but his blood freezes as
he reals:
~, Ludovica SfOrza, tempted by the
gold Of the Prince Of Tolf, spent three
years in cOntriving aud executing this ac'
cursed triumph Of my art. When II was
completed, tie pOrlaiOus TOLD, more devil
than man, who conducted mo hitler ono
morning TO bG witness, rs he said, OF It's
perfection, doomed NC to he the fSt vic
tim OF my own pcrnicious skill; lost, ny he
declared, should divuIge the secret or re-
peat the effort OF my ingenuity. May God
pardon him, us | hopO lIo Will INC, that
minIstcrUd 10 his unhallOwGd purpose.
Miserable wretch, %hoe'er thou art, that
readcst these lines, fall on thy knees, and
invoke as | have done, Ills sustaining
merry who alone can nerve thee to meet
the vengeance OF Toll, armed with his tre.
mcndous engine which, in few hours,
must crush you, rs twill the needy wretch
who madeit,"
4 deep groan burst from vivenzio. lie
stood, like one transtixed, with dilatCd
eyes, expanded noStrils and quivoring lips,
gIzing at this fatal inscription. It was as
Il voice from the sOpulchrc had sounded
in his ears, Prepare" Hope forsook him.
fTt.nHg, I,t NnH t,Rt