Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-12-04
THE MYSTERIOUS oRGANIsT.
A LEGEND OF THE RHINE.
Kind hearts are more than coronets,

o'ofiooking the hnine, theie appeared mys-
terious organist. The great composer who
had played the organ so long had suddenly
died, and everybody from the king to the
peasant, was wondering who could be found to
NIL his place. when one bright Sabbath morn,
| as the sexton entered the church, be saw
| stranger sitting at the Grape shrouded organ.
| He was tall, graceful man, with pale but
strikingly handsome face, great black, melan-
choly eyes, and hair like the ravens wing for
| gloss and color, sweeping in dark waves over
his shoulders. He did not seem to notice the
sexton, but went on playing, and such music
as he drew from the instrument no words of
mine can describe. The astonished listener
| declared that the organ seemed to have grown
human-that it walled and sighed and clam
ored, as if a tortured human heart were throb-
bing through its pipes. When the music at
length ceased the sexton hasfed to the stranger
and said
s'Pray, who are you, sir ?''
s'DO not ask my name, - he replied tsl have
heard that you are in want OF organist, and
came here on trial.
"You'll be sure to get the place. the sexton
reclaimed. s'Why, you surpass him that's
dead and gone, sir 20
ssNo, no; you overrate me,'' resumed the
stranger, with sail smile and then, as il
diSinclined to conversation, he turned from
old Hans, and began to play again. And now
| the music changed from sorrowful strain to
| grand peon, and the mysterious organst-
Looking upward fu ii of grace,
Prayed till from happy place.
Gods glory smote HIM on the face"
and his countenance seemed not unlike that Of
St. Michael, as portrayed by Guido.
Lost in the harmonies which swelled around
him, he sat with his "far-seeine'' gaze fixed
on the distant sky, glimpse of which he had
caught through an open window, when there
was stir about tie church door, and a royal
party came sweeping in. Among them might
be seen young girl with wealth OF golden
hair, eyes like the violet in hue, and lips like
wild cherries. This was the Princess Eliza
beth, and all eyes turned to her, as she seated
| herself in the velvet cushioned pew appropria-
ted to the court. The mysterious organist
fixed his gaze upon her and went on playing.
No sooner had the music reached her ears,
than she started, as if ghost had crossed her
path. The bloom faded from her check, her
lip quivered, her whole frame grew tremulous.
at last her eyes met those of the organist in
long, long, " earning look, and then the melody
lost its joyous notes, and the organ once more
walled and sighed and clamored.
s'By my faith" whispered the King to his
daughter, "this organist has master-hand.
Hark ye, ,child, he shall play at your wedding 70
The pale lips of the Princess parted, but
| she could not speak-she dun; with
grief. Like one in painful dream, she saw
the pale man at the organ, and heard the
| melody which filed the vast edifce. Aye,
full well she knew who he was, and why the
tortured heart
When the service was over, and the royal
party had left the cathedral, he stole away as
mysteriousy he had come. He was not
seen again by the sexton till the vesper hour,
and then he appeared in the organ loft and
commenced his task. AS he played, yelled
figure glided in, and knelt near a side shrine.
There she remained till the worshippers had
dispersed, when the sexton touched her on the
shoulder and said
'sMadam, everybody has gone but you and
me, and wish to close the doors.''
''I am not ready TO 60 YETI was the reply
| ssleave me-leave me-"
The sexton drew back into a shadowy niche,
and watched and listened. The my sterious
organist still kept his post, but his head was
bowed upon the instrument, and he could not
see the lone devotee. At length she rose from
the aisle, and moving to the organ loft, paused
beside the musician.
ssBertram,'' she murmured.
Quick as thought the organist raised his
head. There, with the light of lamp suspend
ed to the arch above falling full upon her,
stood the Princess who had graced the royal
pew that day. The court dress of velvet with
its soft ermine trimmings, the tiara, the neck
lace, the bracelets, had been exchanged for q
grey serge robe, and long, thick veil, which
was now pushed back from the fair, girish
face.
"Oh Elizabeth, Elizabeth 20 exclaimed the
organist, and he sank at her feet, and gazed
wistfully into her troubled eyes.
ssWhy are you here, Bertram 70 asked the
Princess.
81 came to bid you farewell, and as dared
not venture into the palace, gained access
to the cathedral by bribng the belringer, and
having taken the vacant seat Of the dead organ
list, let my music breathe out the a6ieu could
not trust my lips to utter"
low moan was his only answer, and he
continued
ssYou are to be married on the morrow
eyes" sobbed the girl. ssOh, Bertram,
what a trial it will be to stand at yonder altar,
and take upon me vows which will doom me to
living death!''
ssThink of me,' rejoined the organist.
"Your royal father requested me to play at
the wedding, and l have prom ised to be here.
If were your equal could be the bridegroom
instead of the organist, but poor musician
must give up!''
ssIt is like rending soul and body asunder to
part with you,'' said the girl sSro-night 1
may tell you this-tell you how fondly love
you, but in few hours it will be sim Go,
60, and God bless you 90
She waived him from her, as If she would
Danish him while she had the strength to do
so, and he-how was it with him! He rose to
leave her, then came back, held her to his
heart in long embrace, and with half
smOthered farewell left her.
The next morning dawned in cloudless
splendor, and at an early hour the cathedral
was thrown open, and the sexton began to
prepare for the brilliant wedding. Flame
colored flowers nodded by the wayside, flame
colored leaves came rushing down from the
trees and lay In light heaps upon the ground
the ripe wheat waved like golden sea. and
berries dropped in red and purple clusters
over the rocks along the Rhine.
At length the palace gates were unclosed