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

the vacant seat OF the oead organisI, le
nv music breathe out the adieu eoult
not trust my lips to utter"
A low moan was the only answer, anC
be continued
"You are to be married on the NOR
row ?"
"Yes." sobbed the girl, "and, oh
Bertram, what trial it will be to stand
at wonder altar and take upon me the
VOWS which will doom me to living
death l''
"Think of me-" rejoined the organ.
ist. "Your royal father has requested
me to play at the wedding. and have
promised to be here. If l were your
equal, l could be the bridegroom in
stead of the organist but the poor mu-
sician must give you up"
at is like rending soul and body
asunder. to part with you," said the
girl. "To-night 1 will tell you this
tell you how fondly l love you, but in
few hours it will be sin Go. go,
and God bless you !"
She waved him from her, as if she
would Danish him while she had power
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 f-smothered farewell left
her.
The next morning dawned in cloud
less splendor, and at an early hour the
cathedral was thrown open, and the
sexton began to prepare for the brilliant
wedding. Flsme-colored flowers nod
ded by the way-side = fame-colored
leaves came rushing down from the
trees, and lay in light heaps upon the
ground ; and The ripe wheat waved like
a golden sea, and berries dropped in red
and purple clusters over the rocks along
the Rhine.
At length the palace gates were open
ed. and the royal family appeared, es-
corting the princess Elizabeth to the ca
thedral, where her marriage was to be
soIemnized. II was a brave pageant !;
far brighter than the entwined foliage
and blossoms. were the tufts of plumes
which fioated from stately heads, and
the festal robes that streamed down over
the housings of the superb steeds. But
the princess, mounted on snow-white
palfrey, and clad in snow-white velvet,
looked pale and sad and when, on
nearing the church, she heard a gush
of organ music, which, though jubilant
in sound, struck on her ear like funer-
al knell, she trembled, and would have
fallen to the earth, had not page sup
ported her. A few moments afterward
she entered the cathedral. There with
his retinue, stood TIE royal bridegroom,
whom she had never before seen. But
her glance roved from him to the organ
loft, where she had expected to see the
mysterious organist. He was gone, and
she was obliged to return the graceful
bow of the king, 10 whom she had been
betrothed from motives Of policy. Me-
chanically she knelt at his side on the
altar-stone mechanically listened to
the service and made the responses
Then her husband drew her TO him in a
convulsive embrace and whispered
Elizabeth, my queen, my wife, look
up"
Trembling in every limb, she obeyed.
Why did those dark eyes thrill her so ?
Why did that smile bring glow on her
cheek ? All! though the king wore
the rovsl purple. and many jeweled
order glittered on bis breast, he seemed
the same humble person who had been
employed to teach organ music, and
had taught her the lore Of love.
Elizabeth" murmured the monarch
"Bertram Hoffman, the mysterious or
gsnist, aud King Oscar are one. For
give my stratagem / wished to marry
you, but would not drag to the altar
an unwilling bride. Your father was
in the secret"
While tears OF Joy raised from her
blue ewes, the new-made queen return
ed her husbands fond kiss, and for once
two hearts were made happy BY royal
marriage.