Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-08-21

"Kind hearts are more than coronets,
And simple faith than Norman blood
YEARS AGO, at a grand old cathedra
overlooking the Rhine, there appeared
mysterious organist. The great com
poser, who had played the organ Sc
long, had suddenly died, and every
body, from the king to the peasant
was wondering who could be found tc
ell his place, when, one bright Sabbath
morn. as the sexton entered the church,
he saw a stranger sitting at the Grape
shouldered organ, He was a tall,
graceful man, with pale but striking
" handsome face, great, black, melan-
choly ewes, and hair ike the ravens
wing for gloss and color, sweeping in
dark waves over bis shoulders. He
did not seem to notice the sexton, but
went on playing, and such music as he
drew from the instrument no words oi
mine can describe. The astonished
listener declared that the organ seemed
to have grown human--that it walled,
and sighed, and clamored as if tor
tured human heart were throbbing
through its pipes. When the music at
length ceased, the sexton fastened to
the stranger and said:
"Pray, who are you, sir?"
"Don't ask my name" be replied
al have heard that you are in want OF
an organist, and have come here on
trial"
"You'Il be sure 10 get the place, :"
exclaimed the sexton. "Why, you
surpass him that's dead and gone, sir!'
mo, no; you overrate me" resumed
the stranger, with a sad smile; and
then, as if disinclined to conversation,
he turned from old Hans, and began
to play again. And now the music
changed from sorrowful strain to a
grand old pean, and the mysterious or
ganist-
"Looking upward full grace,
Prayed TIL 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-see-
ing" gaze fixed on the distant sky, a
glimpse of which he caught through
an open window, when there was stir
about the church door, and a royal
party came sweeping in. Among them
might be seen young girl, with a
wealth OF golden hair, eyes like the
violet's hue, and lips like wild cherries.
This was the princess Elizabeth; and
all eyes turned to her as she seated her
self in the velvet cushioned pew appro-
priated 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 start
ed, as if a ghost had crossed her path.
The bloom faded on her cheek, her lips
quivered, and her whole frame grew
tremulous. AT last her eyes met those
of the organist. in long, yearning
look, and then the melody lost its Joy
Gus notes and once more walled, and
sighed, and clamored.
"By my faith" whispered the king
to his daughter. "this organist has a
master hand. Hark ye, he shall play
at your wedding!''
The pale lips Of the princess parted,
but she could not speak-she was dumb
with grief. Like one in painful dream,
she saw the pale man at the organ,
and heard the melody which filled the
vast edifce. Aye, full we'll she knew
who he was, and Why the instrument
seemed breathing out the agony of a
tortured heart.
When the service was over, and the
royal party had left the cathedral, he
stole away as mysteriousiy as he had
come. He was not seen again by the
sexton till the vesper hour, and then
he appeared in the organ loft and COM
menced his task. As he played a
veiled figure glided in, and knelt near
side-shrine. There she remained till
the worshipers dispersed, when the
sexton touched her on the shoulder
and said:
MADAM, everybody has gone but
you and me, and l wish 10 close the
DOORS"
al am not ready to go yet," was the
reply, "leave me--leave mep'
The sexton drew back into q shady
niche. and watched and listened. The
mysterious organist still kept bis post
but his head was bowed upon the in.
strnment, and he could not see the lone
devotee. At length she arose from the
aisle, and, moving to the organ loft
paused beside the musician.
"Bertram," she murmured.
Quick as thought the organist raised
his head. There, with the light OF I
lamp suspended TO the arch above. fall
ing full upon her, stood the princes
who had that day graced the royal pew
The velvet court dress with its soft er
mine trimmings, the tiara, the neck
lace, the bracelets, had been exchanged
for a gray serge robe, and long tbicl
veil, which was now pushed back from
the fair, giriish face.
"Oh, Elizabeth! Elizabeth" ex
claimed the organist, and he sunk a
her feet, and gazed wistfully into he
troubled eyes.
"Why are you here, Bertram," asked
the princess.
81 came to bid you farewell, and a
] dared not venture into the palace,