The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1862-11-07
r. The Mysterious Organist,
A LEGEND OF THE RHINE
KIND hearts ars m6re than roronets,

the organ so long hsS suddenly died
and everybody, from the king down
to The peasant, was wondering who
could be found to fill lis place,
when. one bright Sabbath morn, "a
the sexton entered the church, he
saw a stranger sitting at tho Grape
shrouded organ. fle was a tai!
graceful man, with a pale and ctr k
fingly handsome face, black, melan
choly eyes. and hair like the ravens
wing for gloss and color, sweeping
IN dark waves over bs shoulders. -
/ lie did no. seem to notice the eek
ton. but went on playing, and such
lnnsic as he drew from the instru.
ment no words mine can describe
The astonished listener declared tha
the organ seemed to have grown
jhuman-that il walled and sighed
and clamored as if tortured human
heart were thrObbing through its
pipes. When the nnsic at lcnsth
ceased, the sexton nasteued to the
stranger and said:
Pray. who are you siI!
Don't aslt my name he replied
i have heard that Won are in want
of an organis,, and have come here
on trial
You'll he sure to get the place,
exclaimed the sexton. Why, you
surpass him that's dead and gone,
,,i..'
No, no; you overrate me, re
sumed the stranger, with q ssd
smile; and then. as il disinclin"d to
conversation, turned from old Hans
and began to play again. And
now the mnsic changed from n sor
rowiul s'rain TO a grand old pg IN
and the mysterious organist-
''inoxing inward ful ~ griee,
rra, ed iiil fr-m hap.,y place
Gods glory smote him ON tho face"
And his conntenance seemei not
mike that Of St. Michael ~ por
travrd by Guido.
Lest in the harmoniea which
sweled around him he SAT with
his FAR seeing gaze fixed on the dis
tant sky, a glimpse of which he
caught through an open window,
when there WAS a stir about the
church door. and royal party came
sweeping in. AmoHl them might
be seen young girl, with a wealth
m golden hair, eyes ike the violet
hue. and ips like wild cherries -
This was the princess L izibe.h; AMI
al. eyes turned 70 her a. che eeated
herself in rhe velvet cushioned n "
Appropriated Ia the cour'. The
mysterious organist fixed hia gaz.
upon her and went ON playing -
No sooner had the music reached
her ears than she started, as il n
host had crossed her path. The
bloom faded on her cheek, he's lips
qui Vered. aud her whole frame grew
tremulons. At last her eyes met
those OF the organist, in a long
yearning look. and then tho melody
lost its joyous notes and once more
walled, sighed, and cialnored.
by my faith whispered the king
10 his daughter, 'this organist has a
master hand. Hsrk ye, he shall
play a, your wedding
The pale lips OF the princess part.
ed but she could not speak-she was
dnmb with grief. Like one in q
painful dream, she esw the pale man
at the organ, and heard the melody
which filled the vast edifice. Ay,
'uli well she knew who he was, and
why the instrument seemed breath
ing ont the sighs OF u tortured heart.
When tie service was over and
the royal party bad left the cathedral,
i,e stole away ss mysteriously as he
ad come. He was not seen again
BY the stxton till the vesper hour,
and then he appeared in the organ
lott, and commenced his task. -
While he played a veiled figure
plided in. and kuelt near a side
shrine. There she remained Til
the worshippers dispersed, when the
sexton touched her on the shoulder
and said:
Madam, everybody has gone but
you and me, and wish to clcse the
doors.'
Il Am not ready TO go yet, was
the reply. leave me-leave me
TIE 8, xton drew back into II
shady nicho and watched and Isten.
ed. The mysterious org ,nist still
kept his post, but his head was
bowed upon the instrument, and he
could not see the lonely devotee -
At length she rose from the aisle
and moved to the organ lott, and
paused beside the musician.
'Bertrani,' she murmured.
Quick rs thought the organist
.rsised his head. There, with the
light OF q lamp suspended to the
arch above, falling upon her, stood
the princess who had graced the
royal pew that day. The court
dress Of velvet, with it's soft ermine
trimmings, the tiara, the necklace,
the bracelets, had been exchanged
for a gray serge robe and a long
thick veil, which was now pushed