The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-08-03


punish criminals in the Italian
prisons and it had always made me
faint and sick to think Of such c
thing.
Down it came, slowly, but not for
a moment staying its deadly ap-
proach. I could touch it now with
my hand as I stood up. I fell on
my knees to pray. When I again
stood upright my head struck the
still descending roof. I endeavored
to stand straight, using all my
might to resist the downward pres
sure, but in vain. Again l fell upon
my knees, The weight reached my
head and pressed zne farther down.
! was now lying on my face. The
air felt hot and unbearable. Iturned
on my back and with my hands and
knees tried to push back or ct least
stop the farther descent of that
awful wall.
AS did SO I thought I could hear
chuckling noise which sounded
like laughter. At length, in hope
less despair, lay still and awaited
the end. My body was pressed gently
against the floor. The weight on
my chest was so great that I could
not breathe. I made violent eff
fort to scream, then moaned family,
and that was all I was conscious Of.
That was not the end, however.
The bright sun shining into my
place of torture and imprisonment
reused me to consciousness and
brought back the 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 q
burning thirst parched my threat
and mouth. I cried aloud for some
one to bring me water, but there
was no answer.
i, Then ] rose and flung myself
with all my weak strength against
the bolted door, but it gave not an
inch. I staggered to the seat and
fell upon it, with my face against
the stones, in order to gain some
slight relief from the GOODNESS. 7
placed my tongue and lips against
the stone, but it gave only momen-
tary relief. @
Ha1&! What was that? Surely
it was the sound Of running water.
What other torture would; they offer
me? I wondered. How close the wa
ter soundedl I turned my head and
saw, to my delight, streams of pure
water flowing from the holes of
which I have already spoken. If;
flung myself to the ground with
cry and commenced to lap up the
water which was fast covering the
floor. Thefiend! It was not water,
but some fiery liquid which scorched
and shriveled up the skin Of my
mouth. I flung myself back on the
seat and resolved not to move again,
but patiently await death.
But the water still kept on flow
ing. What did it. mean? 1t was
creeping slowly up to the bench.
Was drowning in this fiery liquid
to end my sufferings at last? Well,
], would lie still and let its mission
bs accomplished without struggle.
But this was impossible. The in.
stinct of self preservation was still
strong within me, and I stood up.
%The water was now up to my waist
end rising. What would be the use
Of prolonging life by swimming in
this liquid? I mighttas well give up
at once and die. Still I struck out
with my arms and tried to keep my
head above shesliquid. In my feeble
state it was hard work.
D. +;iM to float. MY head sank,
and again | put forth my little
strength and managed to keep on
the surface io- short time. Then
I felt that couldn't hold out any
longer. I sank once and rose again.
making no effort to save myself.
I.en sank and rose once more.
Then I realized that could rise but
once again and opened my eyes to
catch glimpse of the sunlight
streaming in at the other. end of the
cell. -. 9s. .,-. b
To my intense deEght5I saw only
q head of beautiful golden hair, and
o little voice which came from the
child who had her arms about my
neck said why, papa, why do you
,shivsr and shake SO when you take
q nap? Come, leave your musty
old books and go down to the spring
with me to get % drink OF water. DO
B Eaaily Answsfed.
fnTha subject for disnriasinn at &hn