The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-11-21
THE MYSTERIOUS ORGANISE.
A LEGEND OF THE RHINE.
Kind hearts are more than corOnets,
And simple faith than Norman blood

Years ago, at grand old cathedral
overlooking the Rhine, there appeared
mysterious organist. The great composer
who had played the organ so long had sud-
denly died, and everybody, from the king
to the peasant, was wondering who could
be found to fill his place, when, one bright
church, he saw a stranger sitting at the
crape-shrowded organ. He was a tall,
graceful man, with pale but strikmgly
handsome face, great, black, melancholy
eyes, and hair like the ravens wing for
gloss and color, sweeping in dark waves
over his shoulders. He did not seem to
notice the sexton, but went on playing,
and such music as he drew from the in
strument no words of mine can describe.
The astonished listener declared that the
organ seemed to have grown human
that it walled and sighed, and clamored as
if through it's pipes 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. 81
have heard that you are in want of an Or
ganist, and have come here on trial"
"You1l be sure to get the place." ex-
claimed the sexton. ''Why, you surpass
him that's dead and gone, SIR
"No, no; you overrate me-" resumed
the stranger, with sad smile; and then,
as if disinclined to conversation, he turned
from old Hans and began to play again.
And now the music changed from sor-
rowful strain to grand old p@an, and the
mysterious organist-
Looking upward full of grace,
Prayed till from happy place
Gods glory smote him on the face"
and his countenance seemed not unlike
that of St. Michael, as portrayed by
Guido.
Lost in the harmonies which swelled
around him, he sat with his far-seeing"
gaze fixed on the distant sky, glimpse of
which he caught through an open window,
when there was a stir about the church
door, and royal party came sweeping in.
Among them might be seen young girl,
with wealth of golden hair, eyes like the
violet hue, and lips like wild cherries
This was the Princess Elizabeth, and all
eyes turned to her as she seated herselfin
the velvet cushioned pew appropriated to
the court. No sooner had the music
reached her ears than she started as if
ghost had crossed her path. The bloom
faded from her check, her lips quivered,
and her whole frame grew tremulous. At
last her eyes met those of the organist, in
a long, yearning look, and then the melo-
dy lost in joyous notes, and once more
walled, and sighed, and clamored.
"By my taith," whispered the King to
his daughter, "this organist has master
hand, Hark We, he shall play at your
Wedding!"
The pale lips of the princess 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 filled the vast edifice
Aye, full well she knew who he was, and
why the instrument seemed breathing out
the agony of a tortured heart.
When the service was over, and the
royal party had left the cathedral, he stole
away as mysteriously as he had come. He
was not seen again 10y the sexton till the
vesper hour. and then he appeared in the
organ loft, and commenced his task.
While he played, a yelled figure glided in,
and knelt near side shrine. There she
lSnelt till the worshippers dispersed, when
and said:
Madame, everybody has gone but you
and me, and wish to close the door,
81 am not ready to go YET" was the re-
ply; 'leave me-leave mel"
Tie sexton drew back into q shady
niche, and watched and listened. The
mysterious organist had kept his post, but
his head was bowed upon the instrument,
and he could not see the lone devotee. At
length she rose from the aisle, and moving
to the organ loft, paused beside the mtl-
sician.
''Bertram !" she murmured.
Quick as thought the organist raised his
head. There, with the light of lamp sus-
pended to the arch above falling tull upon
her, stood the princess who had graced the
royal pew that day. The court dress of
velvet, with its soft erlnine trimmings, the
tiara, the necklace, the bracelets, had been
exchanged for a grey serge robe and a long
thick veil, which was now pushed back
from tie fair girlish face.
"Oh, Elizabeth, Elizabeth. ~ calculated
the organist; and he sank at her feet, and
gazed wistfnlly into her troubled face
Why are you here, Bertram? asked
the princess.
u came to bid you farewell and as I
dared not venture into the palace, I gained
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. ooh, Bertram,
what trial it will be to stand at yonder
altar, and take upon me the VOWS which
will doom me to living DEATH"
"Think OF me-" rejoined the organist;
'.your royal father has requested me to
play at the wedding, and 1 have promised
to be here. If were your equal, 1 could
be the bridegroom instead of the organist;
but poor musician must give you up"