The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1863-09-08

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 instrument
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 its pipes When the
music at length ceased, the sexton hsstened to
the stranger, and said:
"Pray who are you, sir %
"DO not ask my name, he replied, al have
heard that you are in want Of an 6rgaRist and
have come here on trial"
You'll be sure to get the place" exclaimed
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 disin-
clined to conversation, he turned from old
Hans and began to play again. And now the
music changed=frOm sorroWful strain 70
grand old pasan, and the mysterious Orgaaist--
Looking forward full Of grace
Prayed I'LL from happ7 place
Gods glory smots hlm on the faes''
and his countenaRee stemed not unliks that Of
st. Michael, as portrayed by Guido.
Lost IN the harmonies which sWellsd around
him, he sat with his "far-sseing'' gaze fixed on
the distant sky, a glimpse Of which he caught
through an open window, when theTs was q stir
about the church door, and royal party came
sweeping in. Among them might be seen a
young grl with a wealth Of golden hair. eyes
IKE wild cherries. This was the Princess EliEa-
beth and all eyes turned to her as she seated
herself in the aforementioned pew appropFi-
ated to the court. No sooner had the music
reached her ears than she started as If a ghost
had crossed her path. The bloom faded from
her cheek, her lips quiyered and her whole
frame grew tremulous. At last her eyes met
those of the Organist, in a long, yearning look,
and then the melody lost its joyous notes, and
once more walled and sighed, and clamOred.
"By- my faith, . whispered the king to his
daughter, "ths Organist has a master hand
Hark ye, he shall play at your wedding r
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
filed the vast edifce Ave, full well she knew
who he was, and why the instrument scanned
breathing out tbs agony OF tortured heart.
When the service was over and the royal
party had left the cathedral, he 3tOle away as
mysteriOusly az he had come. HeWss not seen
again BY the sexton till the vesper hour, and
then he appeared in the organ loft, and COM
meneed his task. While he played, a yelled
figure glided in, and knelt near a side shrine.
There she knelt till the WorshipeFs dispersed,
when the sexton touched her on the shoulder
and said:
Madam, everybody has gone but you and
me- and wish to close the door"
Il am not ready to go,yet," was the reply,
"leave mer-leaUe msH -f
The sexton drew back into shady niche and
watched and listened. The mysterious organist
still kept his post, but his head was bowed upon
the instrument, and he could not see the lone
devOtse. AT length she rose from the aisle, and
moving to the organ loft, paused beside the mu-
sieian.
BERTRAND" she murmured.
Quick asthought theorganist raised bis head.
Thers, with the light Of a lamp, suspended TO
the arch above falling upon ner. stood the prin-
cess who had graced the royal pew that day
The court dress of velvet, with its soft eEmine
trimmings, the necklace, the bracelets, had been
exchanged for a grey serge robe and long
thick veil, which was now pushed back from the
girlish face.
'sOh, Elizabeth, Elizabeth" calculated the
organist and he sank at her feet. and gazed visit
fully into her troubled eyes.
''Why are you here, Bertram 2 asked the
princess.
Il came to bid you farewell, and as dared
not venture into the palace, 1 gained access to
the cathedral by bribing the bell-ringer. and
having taken the vacant seat Of the dead organ
ist, let my music breathe out the adeu I could
not trust my lips to utter"
A low moan was the only answer, and he con-
tnusd:
HYOu are to be married on the morrow 81
eyes" sObbed the girl. ooh, Bertram, What
a trial it viii be to stand at yonder altar, ana
take upon me the VOWS which viii doom me to
4 living death %
"Think Of me, reioned the organi5t; your
royal father has requested me to play At the
wedding, and have promised him to be here.
If IFere your equal could be the bridegroom
instead Of the organist; but c poor musician
must give you up"
at is ike rending soul and body asuHder to
part with YOU, said the girl ''TO-night may
tell yOa this-tell you how fOndly love you.
but in a few hours it will be a sin. Go, go. and
God bless youl"
She waved him from her, as if she would ban
ish him while she had the power 70 do so; and
he. how was it with him = He rose 70 leave
her, then came back, held her to his heart In
one long embrace, and with nalf smothered
farewell left her.
The next morning dawned in cloUdlsas splea.
dor, and at an early hour the cathedral was
thrown open, and the sexton began to prepare
for the brilliant wedding. Flame-colored How
ers waved BY the Wayside-fame-colOred leaves
came rushing down from the trees, and lay in
light heaps upon the ground; and the ripe wheat
waved like golden sea, aud berries dropped IN
red and purple clusters over the rocks along
the Rhine
AT length the palace gates were opened, and
the royal party appeared, esc0rting the Princess
Elizabeth to the cathedral, where her marriage
was 10 be solemnized. Il was a brave pageant;
far brighter than the untWin0d foliage were tbs
tufts Of plumes which foaled from stately hsads,
and the festal robes that streamed down over
the housings of superb steeds. But the princess:
mounted on a snow white paltrey, anu clad in
snow white velvet, looked pale and sad; and
when, on ne1ring the church, she heard a gush
Of organ music, which, though iubilant in sound,
struck on her ear ike 4 funeral knel, she
trembled, and would have fallen TO the earth had
not page supported her A lew moments af
terWaris she entered the cathedral. There
with his retiHue; stood the bridegroom, whom
she had never be.ore seen. But her glance
roved from him 70 the organ lot, where she had
expected to see the mysse.iou Organist. BE
was gone, and she was Obliged 70 return the
graceful bow Of the king . whom she had been
from motives Of policy. Mechanic
aly she knelt at his side on The altar stone; me-
chanically listened 70 the service and made the
Then her husband drew her to him
in u conyulsive embrace, and whispered:
Elizabeth, my queen, my wife, look up
Trembling in every limb she obeyed. Why
did those dark eyes thrill her sol Why did that
smile bring glow on her cheek3 All though
the king wore the purple and many ieWeed or
Ter gIittered on his breast, he seemed the same
humble person who had been employed to teach
organ music, and had taught her the lore Of
love,
elizabeth, /" murmured the monarch, "Be,-
tram Holman, the mysterious Orgauist, aud
King Oscar are onel Forgive NY stratagOm.
| wished to marry you, but ! would not drag -
The altar an unwilling bride Your htbeE Tas
IN the secret
While tears Of joy rained from her blue eyes,
he noW-msde queen returned her husbands
- q ..r..n an-n Ln.nL. IA. nj.