The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-02-01

bell which stood upon the table before
him; .mercy is wasted on obstinacy-
The rack shall make you speak.
Can the rack teach me that which
do not know" retorted the prisoner.
The older man, without replying,
siqnaled to two tall and powerful men
clad in black, who had silently en-
,arad the hall. Take the prisoner,
he said, land bind him on the rack.
Let me be summoned when all is in
readiness"
The Young man, who did not blanch,
was seized by the eNccutioners ana
hurried through devious passages TO
the great torture-cham Der, where thesi-
Ience seemed still TO preserve an echo OF
all the shrielzs and groans that had rung
through those dim arches Stripped
and laid on the rack, he preserved
the same composure. and seemed even
indifferent TO the advent OF the two
noble lords whose entrance must give
the signal for his sufferings To begin
One was the same TO whose eXamlna-
ton ne had already been subjected IL
the audience hall; the Other-Doria
bfmself-a tall, white-haired old man,
pazed AT him eagerly, as If TO eXtract
from his face the information which
his Iips refused TO give But there was
nothing to be gained by inquisitlve
glances- Luigi's countcnanCe remained
rs inexpensive as his words, and when
the attendants, at the signal, began
their torments, they were pOwerless
10 drag treachery from his lips
The rarrarr.a t-az anr1iaH -,
next day. and the next, and yet again.
As the prisoner became weaker, his
selfcontrol gave way; in his pain he
sobbed and moaned and shrieked, but
he never spoke. Each day he smiled
anew before they laid him on the rack,
and repeated his old formula. How
can the torture make me reveal what
am Ignorant of? know or no conspira-
cy, signori; i have no fellows"
There are other ways than the rack
10 make you reveal your evil knowl-
edge" responded the Prince on one
occasion, when. pale, exhausted, almost
dying. the miserable sufferer was car
ried past him. But in an instant the
white face lighted up.
have no knowledge, signori,'' he
painted, and smiled again.
The next morning Luigi awaited in
vain the appearance Of the two execu-
TONERS. Instead, late in the day his
- door was unlocked by cripple, who.
standing on the threshold, becboned
him TO come. Bruised and faint,
Luigi staggered to his feet and fol-
lowed the guide, who led him down a
succession of short stairways 10 a mar
row door. Two men at arms followed
close behind. but the prisoner. had he
been alone with his companion. wss
too weak to think of resistance or es-
cape. The guide threw the door open
with q c!ang- The dungeon which
they entered was small, and dimly
lighted from an opening high above
their heads 1t was evident that they
stood far below the level Of the earth
The guide once more beckonei
Luigi and led him to the corner
Of the cell, where on a rough stone
lay tablet, a bronze cup filed with
black liquid, and feather trimmed for
o writing. The cripple's voice, hoarse
and cracked, broke the silence
When you weary OF solitude" he
said, ''or wish for the sunshine, or
Perchance desire nothing more than
4 mOuthfGl of fruit, or swallow OF
fresh spring water, you have but 10
write the names our master asked
upon this tablet and place it in the
shaft You will receive your free
dom and all that the heart OF man
can desire, otherwise your imprisoE-
ment is lifelong"
l. ~.
heard the jar Of the closing door.
and the heavy bolts were drawn
Footsteps resounded through the cav
ernous halls and died away He was
alone Exhausted, faint and throb-
bing with pain in every muscle. his
sole feeling was delight at having
escaped the torture. He sank upon
the cold stone floor, and lay motion
less for hour after hour in an ecstasy
Of relief. Presently he felt life gath
ering afresh in his bruised and aching
body, and his mind recovering some
thing or strength. A swapping noise
1t one side Of the cell reused his at
tention, and he lifted himself hastily
ON one elbow. His keen gaze dis
oerned small iron plate at one side
Of the wall, and this had flown open
He sprang 10 examine il. From the
aperture thus revealed he could look up
through a narrow shaft lined with
smooth black marble and extending
upward some thirty feet or more As
he looked. the opening at the top
was darkened, and he only withdrew
his head in time TO escape the rapid
fail of shelf hung on slender chains.
which descended to the level of his
cell. II was filed TO overflowing
with sumptuous meal. The richest
meats, the daiEtiest fruits, the rarest
wines were before him, For mo-
ment Luigi feared some hidden poison.
but the respite from pain had enabled
his native yigor to reassert itself,
and he was consumed with hunger.
He set the viands on the huge block
OF stone which must serve him for Il
table, and laughed aloud with childish
pleasure as he began to eat.
Ha,' he cried. Il shall have no
uncomfortable longings for cup OF
spring-water or mouthful of fruit
while the Dorias furnish such royal
I foOdr'
There was enough before him for six
men. and Luigi had no haste. He ate
/ leisurely, enjoying the SAVIOR of each
mouthful. and as he did so he noticed
a thin. weazened little mouse, which
had squeezed itself through crack
beneath the heavy door of the dungeon
and stared at him with bright, besdy
black eyes The smell of the food
overcaue its natural timidity, and it
came slowly nearer and nearer, its
twinkling gaze following every movth-
full he raised to his lips The creature
was evidently starving. and moved by
compassion. Luigi threw it some
crumbs. and watched with pleasure the