The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1862-12-31
The Mysterious OrSanist.
A LEGEND OF THE RHINE.
"Kind hearts are more than 'coronets.
And simple tait b than Norman blood.n

LEGEND OF THE RHINE.
''Kind hearts are more than coronets
And simple faith than Norman blood"
Years ago, at grand cathedral over
hooking Rhine. there apperred my sternou.
organiSt The great composer who playec
the organ so long, suddenly died, and every
one from the King to the peasant, wa.
wondering who could be found to ill his
place, when, one bright Sabbath morning
as the sexton entered the church, he saw
stral. ger sitting ut the crape-shrouled or
gan. He was a tall, graceful man, with g
pale but strikngly handsome countcnance
great, black, melancholy, eyes. and hai.
like a ravens wing in gloss and color. Ii,
had not seemed to notice the sexton, bu
went on playing ana such music as h.. drew
from the instrument no words of mine car
describe. The astonShed listeners declare.
that the organ seemed to have grown hu
man-that it walled, and sighed, and clam
ored as if a tortured human heart va,
throhbing through it. When the music a
length ceased the sexton FASTENED to tn,
st, anger and said
"Pray, who are you, sirr"
"Do not ask my nanie," he replied. 81
have heard that you are in want of an or
ganis,, and have come here ON trial"
you'll be sure to get the place. ex
claimed the sexton. "Why you surpass
him that's dead and gone, SIR"
"No, no, you ovrrrate me- resumed thu
stranger, with :, sad smile; and then, as il
dl>inclined To conversation he turned from
old Hans. and began to play again. AnC
now the music changed from Il sorrowtu
strain to grand old pean, and the myste
riOuS organiSt
'Looku, upward full of grace
Played, till from happy place
GodH glory struck him i'll the face,
and his countenance seemed not unlike
that of St. Michael, as portrayed by Guido
Lost in the harmonies which swellcd
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 royal party came sweeping ir.--
Among them mig ht be seen young girl,
with wreath of golden hMr. eyes of violet
hue, and lips like wild cherries. This was
Princess Elizabeth, and all eyes turned
towards her as she seated hHrs.lf in the
velvet cushioned pew appropriated to the
court. The mysterious organist fixed his
eyes on her and went on playing No
sooner had the music reached her ears, than
she started as if a ghost had crossed her
path. The bloom faded from her checks,
her lips quivered. and her hole frame grew
tremulous. AT last her eyes met those of
the organist in long, y"arning look, and
then the melody lost its joyous notes, and
once more walled, and sighed and clamor-
ed
"By my faith" whispered the King to
his daughter, this organist has master
hand. Hark We, my child, he shall play at
your weddng."
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 th- pale man at the organ, aud heard
the melody which filled the vast edltice.-
Ay, 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 row
al party had left the cathedral, he stole
away as mys,e,iouS!y as he came. lie was
not seen again by the sexton until the YES
per our, and then he appeared in the lof,
and commenced bis task While he play
ID, a vciled figure glided in and knelt at a
side shrine There Sc remained till the
disappeared, when the sexton
touched her on the shoulder and said,
Madame, everybody 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 he could not
see the lone dsvotee. At length she rose
from the aisle, and moving to the organ
loft. passed beside the musician.
"Bertram," she murmured.
Quick As thought the organiSt raised his
head. There, with the light of lamp sus-
pended to the arch above falling upon her,
stood the princess who had graced the roy
al pew that day. Tie court dress Of velvet,
with its soft ermne trimmings, the tiara,
the necklace, the bracelets. had all been tx,
changed for simple gray serge robe, and
a long, thick veil, which was now pushed
back from her girlish face.
"Oh! Elizabeth, Elizabeth !" exclaimed
the organi>t, and he sank at her feet and
gazed wist!ully into her troubled eyes.
"Why are you here, BertIam,' asked the
princess. .....
Il came to bid you farewell, and as
dared not venture into the palace, 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 could not trust my lips to
utter"
4 low moan was the only answer. and
he continued
"YoG are to be married OF the mnrrow?"
YES" sobbed the girl "Oh, Bertram,
what trial it will be to stand at y,nder
altar, and take upon me the VOWS that will
doom me to living death"
"Think of me-" rcjoined the organist.-
"Your royal father requests me to play at
your wedding, and have promised to be
here. If were your equal could be the
bridegroom instead OF orSanst; but poor
musician must give you up
ut is rendering body and soul asunder
to part with you,' said the girl. "To night
| may tell you this-tell you how much |