Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-08-08
The Mysterious Organist.
A LEGEND OF THE RHINE.
"Kind hearts are more than coronets,
And simple faith than Norman blood"


Years ago, at a grand old cathedral
overlooking the Rhine, there appeared a
mysterious 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 ba found to Gil his place, when, one
bright Sabbath morn, as the sexton en-
tered the church. he saw stranger
sitting on the crape-shrouded organ. lie
was a tall, graceful man, with a pale but
strikingly handsome face, great black,
melancholy eyes, and hair like the ra-
ven's wing for gloss and color, sweeping
in dark waves over lis 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 lis
tener declared that the organ seemed TO
have grown human-that it walled and
sighed, and clamored, as if a tortured
human heart were throbbiog through its
pipes " "'" ''is N-'7'' ''' 'o''S'" 's's'u
'ne 'eA'oH i's'0-''u " '"' 81 '''s' ''l'
said,
bFay' VINO are you' SIR
10 not ask my name A7 r'P"ao'
nave nearu 'N'' you are III want .. "1
o'san'S'' "uu "''' o''N' mere 0.' '''a''
GU Il De sure 10 set 'ne pace e@-
claimad 'oe se1'0' "'y' you sur pas
MN 'na' cea' "n1 gone '''
no. ho' you o'e''"'' me- resumed
inc aS'Anso'' "''N q 7'0 s''''' ".'- ''-.''
as II U.se"1'''ieu " 0'''' l' 5"'i@'' ''
'uFneu ho" o'o A''As' anu o'5"A -
pay 's'""' Auu no" 'H' music ''"'5
Gu ''0" " Soil'"''' s''"'" 10 " 3 anu
o'1 ISean' anu ''' a. ''s'''"' o' 5''''''--
p[.v.a I'm c.ra ",,,, ''., ,.,,ar ,l,r,
Goi's glory smo,e him on the f,ce."
and his coun.enanco seemed not unlike
that CT 81. Michael as portrayed by
Guido.
Lost in the harmonies which swelled
around him, he sat with his tar-seeing'
gaze fixed on the distant sky, glimpse
of which he caught through the open
window, when there was a stir about the
church door, and royal party came
sweeping in. Among them might be
seen a young girl with wealth Of golden
hair, eyes like the violet hue, and lips |
like wild cherries. This was the Prin-
cess Elizabeth and all eve. turned to
her as sbe seated herself in the velvet
cushioned new oDDronr;ata to the court.
The mysterious organist fixed bis gaze
upon her and went on playing. No.
.oo,or had the r,psia reached brr ears.
.,ho, sb, s.or,I.d 90 r q ,,o.f bad cro-- I,
sodL.r not, IT. ,I,o0, f.de5 from
ho.o oho.i, to. In. c,;,.r.l onl her
whole fro,,. cro,y ,ror,pIops At las.
bsr ewes mat those of the oroonist in
lone vearninr look and the melody IostI
;ts ;ovous rota. orl oocs nor. yo;el
and sigbed and clomorad
nv nv faith, wbisnorel tho King TO
his dspobter this oroanist is n master
hand. Horl1 We. he shall Dlav at vour
weddingr
The male Iins Of the nripcess parted
but she could not speak-she was dumb
with grief Like one in a painful dream.
she saw the pale man at the organ, and
heard the melody which filed The vast
ediRca. Ay, 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, aud the
royal party had left the cathedral,he stole
away as mysteriousiy as he had come
lie was not seen again by the sexton till
the vespe- hour, and then he appeared
in the organ loft, and commenced his
task. While he played, a veiied figure
gided in, and knelt near the side shrine.