The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1881-10-08

When he grew more calm he surveyed his
gloomy dungeon. Alas. the stronger light of
day had served to confirm what the gloomy in
distinctness of the previous evening had partially
disclosed-the utter impossbility of escape. AS,
however, his eyes wandered round and round
and from place to place, he noticed two clrcum-
stances which excited his surprise and curiosity.
The one, he thought might be fancy; but the
other was positive. His pitcher of water and
the dish which contained his food had been re-
moved from his side while he slept, and now
stood near the door Were he even inclined to
doubt this, by suppOsing he had mistaken the
SPOT where he saw them over night, he could
not: for the pitcher now in his dungeon was
neither of the same form color as the other,
while the food was changed for some other of
better quality. He had been visited therefore
during the night But how had the person OBJ
tanned entrance? Could he have slept soundly
that the unlocking and opening of those pom
derous portals were effected without waking
him? He would have said this not pos
sible, but that in doing so, he must admit
greater difficulty an entrance by other means, OF
which, he was convinced, none existed. 1t was
not intended, then, that he should be left to
perish from hunger: but the secret and mySte-
rious mode of supplying him with food seemed
to indicate he was to have opportunity of
communicating with a human being.
The other circumstance which had attracted
his notice was the disappearance, as he believed,
of one of the seven grated windows that ran
along the top of his prison. He felt confident
that he had observed and counted them; for he
was rather surprised at their number, and there
was something peculiar in their form, as well as
in the manner of their arrangement, at unequal
distances. 1t was so much easier, however, to
suppose he was mistaken than that portion OF
the solid iron which formed the walls could have
escaped from its position, that he soon dismissed
the thought from his mind.
Vivenzio partook of the food that was before
him without apprehension 1t might be poisoned;
but if it were he knew he could not escape death,
should such be the design of Tolfi; and the
quickest death would be the speediest relief.
The day passed wearily and gloomily, though
not without faint hope that, by keeping watch
at night, he might observe when the person came
again to bring him food, which he supposed he
would do in the same way as before. The mere
thought of being approached by living creature,
and the opportunity it night present OF learning
the doom prepared or preparing for him. I'M
parted some comfort. Besides, if he came alone,
might he not in furious onset Overpower him?
Or he might be accessible to pity, the influence
of such munifcent rewards as he could bestOw
if once more at liberty and master OF himself.
Say he were armed. The worst that could befall,
if nor bribe nor prayers force prevailed, was
faithful blow, which, though dealt in damned
cause might work desired end. There was no
chance so desperate but it looked lovely in
Vivenzio's eyes. compared with the idea Of being
totally abandoned
The night came, and Vivenzio watched. Morn
ing came, and Vivenzo was confounded. He
must have slumbered without knowing it. Sleep
must have stolen over him when exhausted by
fatigue and, in that interval of feverish repose,
he had been baffied for there stood his re-
plenished pitcher of water, and there his days
meal Nor was this all Casting his looks to-
ward the windows of his dungeon he counted
but FIVE! Here was no deception and he was
now convinced there had been none the day
before But what did all this portend? Into
what strange and mysterious den had he been
cast? He gazed till his eyes ached; he could
discover nothing to explain the mystery. That
it was So he knew Why it was so, he racked
his imagination in vain to conjecture. He ex-
amined the doors. a simple circumstance con-
WINGED him they had not been opened.
4 wisp of straw, which he had carelessly
thrown against them the preceding day, as he
paced to and fro remained where he had cast it,
though it must have been displaced by the
slightest motion of either of the doors. This
was evidence that could not be disputed; and it
followed there must be some secret machinery in
the walls by which a person could enter He
! inspected them closely. They appeared to him
one solid and compact mass of iron; or joined
if joined they were, with such nice art that
no mark of division was perceptible. Again
and again he surveyed them, and the floor and
the roof, and that range of visionary windows
as he was now almost tempted to consider them
He could discover nothing, absolutely nothing
to relieve his doubts satisfy his curiosity
Sometimes he tancied that altogether the dun
geon had more contracted appearance-that
it looked smaller but this he ascribed to fancy,
and the impression naturally produced upon his
mind by the undenable disappearance of two
of the windows.
To be continued
GLEANINGS.