The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1860-03-23
THE MYSTERY.

| "'"''' ." '"o SH e'her'"uCS was q a1OnflS1-
'"g university town. From the rich com.
mcrcial cities all around the wealthy burg
hers sent their sons to acquire at least a
"mattering Of polite lteraturc at N4at seat
OF learning; and many young noblemcn
also frequented its colleges, contributing TO
the prosperity Of the town by wealth they
! freely spent, even if they prof,ted little by
the educational advantages offered to them
10y "soSsn at the university.
Aboxr ono OF the students there was at
that time mystery, and as may be imac.
ined tho mysterious scholar socn becsu.e
ri olsect ct isterest and curiosity for his
companions, the interest increasing in pro.
portion with the duration Of the mysterious
person IN question acquired the reputation
OF being connected with evil powers, and
with holding converse with familiar demons
Some there were among the students who
even undertook TO furnish proofs of his
having dappled in the black art, and went
so far rs to asset that Adrian had made
compact with the Evil One himself.
The reader will naturally be anxious to
knowSwhat it was that procured for this
student SO sinister and unsatisfactory re-
putation. lie owed it simply to the two
following circumstances:
Adrian Florcnt, the son of clothworLer
at U,retch, had the marvellous power Of
learning almost as it appeared, by intuition.
His progress was wonderful. His fellow.
students, far from being able to compete
with him, were left hopclessly in the rear in
the race for academic honors, and were soon
content to strive for the victor's wrea,hs
among themselves, sesving Adrian to con-
tinue his course as he would, far ahead of
thea all. This vas tie FIRST cause Of his
unpopularity.
How, said these cAsnists Of eighteen or
twenty years, could the obscure clothwor-
kcr's son, who ,weht abroad in slIappy
jerkin and threadbsrc hose, aud had never
broadpiece to spend at the wine house
how could he surpass them all, despite the
advantages they had enjoyed in the way of
early training and compe,ents, without hav-
ing recourse to nnhaIlowed means 1T
was clearly impossible, said the united wis
dom Of the studeEt world Of Louvain.
The second circumstance was more
mysterious one still, and quite in accordance
with the superstitious ideas Of the time.
Every evening as twilight fell, when the
students wer thinking of recreation after
the fatigues Of the day, Adrian would glide
away from auong shctu, and declining all
offers Of companionslip with a courteous
but decided bearing, lie would take him
self away to re-arpear at ten or eleven at
night most frequently with hollow cheeks
and jadcd eyes, in which, however, there
burned An unnatural fire. The object or
direction OF these solitary walks he would
never divulge, parrying all implied hints,
and positively declining 10 answer the direct
questions Of some more eager among his
comrades. Once, when closely pressed, he
turned haugitily uron them, and in words
of withering scorn denounced their mean
ness in endeavoring to pry into matter
that concerned himself alone, and which he
desired to keep hidden. His scon, while
it made them ashamed of themselves, rous-
ed their anger against him who had so
pa'pabIy placed them in the wrong, and
thus the breach between Adrian FIorent and
his fellow.students was widcned, and he
wandered among them-successfu beyond
precedent in his studies but a shun1ed.
prescribed, suspected and consequently un-
happy man. q,
Still the mystery continued. As sure rs
the shadows Of evening fell, the thin, spare
form Of the student was seen issuing from
the college gates: and beedless OF all scoffers
with sad smile on his calm, pale face, he
betook himse!fto his solitary walk. Each
night lie would return with the marks Of
severe mental conflict on his features, to
a. hieve greater and greater triumphs in the
lecture room, and to be looked upon in con-
sequence ~ith increased aversion BY the
youths, wl'o hated and eavied while they
could not equal him.
AT last they could bear uncertainty no
longer; and forgetfal Of the reproof their
curiosity had already received, party of
some twelve betook themselves one night to
tho task Of parading the city through its
length and breadth, in the hope of finding
tbemssterious student. For two hours 4hey
walked in vain: nowhere could they find a
trace Of the man they sought, and as mid
night approached, they were about to aban.
don their search in despair, when one Of
them sugges ted that ST. Peters church had
not yet been visited. The observation was