Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-12-20
THE MYSTERIOUS ORGANISE.
A Legend of the Rhine.
"Kind hearts are more than coronets.
And simple faith than Norman hload ,,

"Kind hearts are more than coronets
And simple faith than Norman blood"
Years ago, at a grand cathedral over
looking Rhine, there appeared mysteri-
Gus organist. The great composer who
played the organ SO long, suddenly died,
and every one from the King to the peas
ant, was wondering who could be found
to I'LL his place, when, one bright Sabbath
morning, as the sexton entered the church,
he saw stranger sitting at the crape-
shrouded organ. He was tall, graceful
man, with a pale out strikingly handsome
countenance, great, black, melancholy,
eyes, and hair like ravens wing in gloss
and color. He had not seemed to notice
the sexton, but went on playing, and such
music as he drew from the instrument no
words of mine can describe The aston.
ished listeners declared that the organ
seemed to have grown humar-that it
walled, and sighed, and clamo-ed, as if
tortured human heart was throbbing thro'
1t. When the music at length ceased the
sexton fastened to the stranger and said
Pray, who are you, sir?'
DO not ask my name," he replied. Il
have heard that you are in want of an Or
ganlst, and have come here on trial"
" You'll be sure to get the place." ex-
claimed the sexton. "Wty you surpass
him that's dead and gone, sir.n
No, no, you Overrate me-" resumed
the stranger, with sad smile; and then,
as II Glslncllned to conversation, he turned
from Did Hans, and began to play again.
And now the music changed from a sor-
rowful strain to grand old pean, and the
mysterious organst
Choking upward full of grace
Played, till from a happy place
Gods glory struck him in the face,
and his countenance seemed not unlike
that OF st. Michael, as portrayed by
Gnido.
Lost in the harmonies which swelled
around him, he sat with his far seeing gaze
fixed on the distant sky, a glimpse of which
he caught through an upper window,
when there was stir around the church
door, and a royal party came sweeping in.
Among them might be seen a Young girl,
with wreath CT golden hair, eyes OF vio-
let hue, ard lips Ike wild cherries This
was Princess Elizabeth, and all eyes turn
ed towards her as she seated hersefi in the
velvet cushioned pew appropriated to the
court. The mysterious organist fixed his
eyes on her aud went on playing. No
sooner had the music reached her ears.
than she started as if ghost had crossed
heI oath. The bloom faded from her
che. IS, her lips quivered, and her whole
frame grew tremulous. At last her eyes
met those OF the organst in a long, yearn
ing look, and then the melody lost It's Joy
Gus notes, and once more walled, and sigh
ed and chmoryd.
"By my faith" whispered the King to
bis daughter, this organist has master
hand. Hark We, my chile, he shall play at
your weddisg"
The pale lips OF the princess parted, but
she could not speak-she was dumb with
grief. Like Que in painful dream she
saw tie pale man at the organ, and heard
the melody which filled the vast edifice.
Ay, full well she knew who ne was, and
why the instrument seemed breathing out
the agony of a tortured heart.
When the service was over, and the
royal party bad LETT the cathedral. he
stole away us myseriously as he came. He
Was not seen again by the sexton until the
vesper hour, and then he appeared in the
loft and commenced his Ia k While he
played, yelled figure glided in and lInelt
at side shrine. There she remained till
the worshippers disappeared, when the
sexton touched her on the shoulder and
said,
Madam, every body has gone but you
and me, and | wish to close the doors.'
The sexton drew into shady niche, and
watched and listened. The mysterious or
ganist still kept his post but lie could not
see the lone desotee. AT length she rose
from the aisle, and moving to the organ
loft, paused beside the musician.
" Bertram." she mOrmure6
Quick as thought the orgaEist raised
his head. There, with the light of a 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 its soft ermine trimmings,
the tiara, the necklace, the bracelets. had
all been exchanged for a simple gray,
serge robe, and long thick vail, which
was now pushed back from her girIish
face.
Oh I! Elizabeth, Elizabeth !" exclaimed
the organist, and he sank at her feet and
gazed Wlsttully into her troubled eyes.
Why are you here, Bertram 2" asked
the princess.
" came to bid you farewell, and "a
dared not venture into the palace. I gain
ed access to the cathedral by bribing the
beil-rlnger, and having taken the vacant
seat OF the dead organist, let my music
breathe out the sdieu l could not trust
my lips to utter"
A low moan was the only answer, and
he continued
You aIe married on the morrow 81
"4es," sobbed the girl. "Oh, Ber-
tram, what trial it will be to stand at
yonder altar, and take upon me the VOWS
that will doom me to living DEATH"
think of me" rejoined the organist
Your royal father requests me to play
at your wedding, and have promised te
be here. If l were your equal could be
the bridegroom instead of organist; but
a poor musician must give you up"
1T is rending body and soul asunder