Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1896-01-07

a time I awoke with a sensation as IL /
were choking. The sensation did not cease
when l left my improvised bed. 1t seemed
rather to increase. Why this should be 1
could not discover, until as again sat on
the bench l perceived peculiar vapors is
suing, as 1t seemed, from the stone sides Of
my prison. On closer examination found
in the walls at each end of my cell num-
Der of small holes, which were without
doubt connected with pipes on the outside
Of the wall.
A sudden horrible suspicion assailed me-
Was the duke trying to exterminate me
with tie fumes of some deadly gasH 1 tried
to reach up and stop the holes with my
hands. By standing on tiptoe could just
reach two, but was forced to withdraw my
hands Immediately as a stream of steam
was forced against them. Almost suffo-
GATED with the fumes, l rushed to the
bench, and mounting it managed to grasp
the iron bars of the window and pull my
head up to breathe some Of the fresh air
This was not an easy task, but by forcing
an arm out and around bar 1 managed
to cling there where / could breathe the
pure air.
Hanging in this way gradually became
insensible, and when Iregained conscious
ness found, to my great delight, that the
instrument Of torture had been removed.
Could it be possible that the duke was
watching me from some concealed hole
and was inflioting this punishment upon
ME for the pleasure of seeing me suffer-
1t made my blood boil to think Of such q
thing.
was beginning to regain strength and
courage, when new dread presented it
self. AS l lay on the floor of the cell 1
was Mortified to see the roof slowly but
surely descending upon me. 1t was a
matter of but few minutes when my life
would be crushed out by that great weight
Of stone. l had heard Of similar means
being employed to punish criminals in the
Italian prisons, and it had always made
me faint and sick to think of such thing.
Down 1t came, slowly, but not for q
moment staying it's deadly approach.
could touch 1t now with my hand as I
stood up. l fell on my knees to pray.
When l again stood upright, my head
struck the still descending roof. / on
deavored to stand straight, using all my
might to resist the downward pressure,
but in vain. Again fell upon my knees.
The weight reached my head and pressed
me farther down. | was now lying on my
face. The air felt hot and unbearable. l
turned on my back, and with my hands
and knees tried to push back or at least
stop tho farther descent Of that awful wall.
AS did so l thought l could hear
chuckling noise, which sounded like
laughter. At length, in hopeless despair,
lay still and awaited the end. My body
was pressed gently against the floor. The
weight on my chest was so great that l
could not breathe. / made violent effort
to scream; then moaned family, and that
was all was conscious Of
That was not the end however. The
bright sun shining into my place of torture
and Imprisonment reused mo to conscious
ness and brought back tho awful remem-
brance Of the evening before. The roof
had been raised to its original position,
and there was nothing to show that it had
ever moved. My head throbbed with
fever, and burning thirst parohed my
throat and mouth. cried aloud for some
one to bring me water, but there was no
answer
Then I rose and flung myself with all
my weak strength against the bolted door,
but it gave not an inch. 1 staggered to
the seat and fell upon it, with my face
against the stones in order to gain some
slight relief from the GOODNESS. placed
my tongue and lips against the stone, but
it gave only momentary relief.
Hark! What was thatG Surely it was
the sound of running water. What other
torture would they offer me? wondered.
How close the water sounded l turned
4 4 Ifs,It V,,s5
Of pure water flowing from the holes Of
which have already spoken. l flung my
self to the ground with n cry and COM
menced to lap up the water which was fast
covering the floor. The fiend! 1t was not
water, but some fiery liquid which scorch-
ed and shriveled up the skin of my mouth.
flung myself back on the seat and re-
| solved not to move again, but patiently
await death.
But the water still kept on flowing.
What did it mean? 1t was creeping slowly
up to the bench. Was drowning in this
fiery liquid to end my sufferings at lastP
Well, l would lie still and let its mission
be accomplished without struggle. But
this was impossible. The instinct Of sell
preservation was still strong within me,
and l stood up. The water was now up
to my waist, and rising fast. What would
be the use of prolonging life by swimming
in this liquid? 1 might ms well give up at
once and die. Still l struck out with my
arms and tried to keep my head above the
liquid. In my feeble state it was hard
work.
1 tried to float. Ny head sank, and
again put forth my little strength and
managed to keep on the surface for a short
time Then l felt that 1 couldn't hold out
any longer-I sank once and rose again,
making no effort to save myself. Then
sank and rose once more. Then l realized