The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-08-06
81 came to bid Won farewell and as I

CdLlO W plu JOu idiCHOll, duu do L
dared not venture into the palace, gain
ed access to the cathedral BY bribing the
bell-ringer. and having taken the vacant
seat of the dead organist, let my music
breathe out the adieu l could not trust
my lips to utter"
A low moan was the only answer, and
he continued
"You are to be married on the morrow"
."Yes," sobbed the girl "Oh, Ber-
tram, what trial 1t will be to stand at
yonder altar, and take upon upon NE the
VOWS which will doom me to living
death p
"Think of me-" rejoined the organist
"Your royal father has requested me to
play at the wedding, and [ have prom
ised to be here. If [ we're your equal, I
could be the bridegroom instead of the
the organist; but poor musician must
give you up"
at is like readlng soul and body asun-
der, to part with you," said the girl
Tonight [ may tell you this 8-tell you
how fondly I 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 a long embrace,
and with half smothered farewell left her.
The next morning dawned in cloudless
splendor, and at an early hour the cathe-
dral was thrown open, and the sexton be-
gan to prepare for the brilliant wedding,
Flame colored flowers nodded 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 golden sea, and ber-
ries dropped in red and purple clusters
over the rocks along the Rhine.
Atlength the palace gates were opened,
and the royal party appeared, escorting
the Princess Elizabeth to the cathedral.
where ber marriage was to be socmnized.
1t was brave pageant far brighter than
the untwined foliage and blossoms were
the tufts of plumes which foated from
stately heads, and the festal robes that
streamed down over the housings of the
superb st9eds. But the princess, mounted
on white palfrey, and clad in snow
white velvet, looked pale and sad /; and
when, on nearing the church, she heard
a gusb Of organ music, which, though
jubiaht in sound struck on her ear like
fune'al kuell, she trembled, and would
nave fallen to the earth had not page
supported her. A few moments after
ward she entered the cathedral There
with his r6tinue, stood the royal bride,
groom, 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
aud she was obliged to return the grace.
! ful bow of the king, to whom she bad
been betrothed from motives of policy
Mechanically 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 con-
vulsive embrace, aud 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 a glow on her
checks? All though the king wore the
royal purple, and many jeweled order
glittered on his breast, he seemed the
same humble person who had been en-
ployed to teach organ music, and had
taught her the lore of love.
"Elizabeth," murmured the monarch,
"Bertram Hoffman, the mysterious organ
ist, and King Oscar are one. Forgive
my stratagem. l wished to marry you,
but [ would not drag to the altar an IN
willing bride. Your father was in the
secret"
While tears Of JOY rained from her blue
eyes, the new-made queen returned her
husbands fond kiss, and for once two
hearts were made happy by royal mar
riage.