The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1863-01-09
MYSTERIOUS ORGANISE.
a Legend OF the Rhine.

"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 80 long. suddenly died.
and every one from the King to the peas
ant, was wondering who CO uld be found
to fl his place, when, one brigh, Sabbath
morning, AZ the sexton entered the
church, he saw a stranger sitting ot the
crape-shrouded organ. He was a tall,
graceful man, with pale but strikingly
handsome countcnance, great, black,
melancholy eyes, and hair like n 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 de-
scribe.
The astonishcd listeners declared that
the organ seemed to have grown hu.
man--that it walled, and sighed, and
camorcd, as if tortured human heart
was throbbing thro' il. When the music
ceased the sexton has.ened to the stran-
ger aud said;
Pray, VINO are you, slr!'
"Do not ask my name," he replied
al have heard that you are in want Of an
organist, and have come here on trial"
"You'il be sure to get the place." ex-
claimed the sexton. "Why you surpass
him thut's dead and gone, sir
"No, no, you overrata me-" resumed
the stranger, with a sad smile; and then,
as If disinclinod to conversat ton, he turn
ed from old Hans, and began to play
again. And now the music changed from
a sorrowtul strain to a grand old pean,
and the mysterious organst
Looking upward foil Of grnce
Pla, ed, till from happy place
Gods glory struck him IN the face"
and his countenance seemed not unlike
th-t of st. Michael, as portrayed by Gui-
do.
Lost in the harmonics 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 win
dow, when there was n stir around the
church door, and royal party came
sweeping in.
Among them might be seen a young
girl, with u wreath Of golden hair, eyes
of violent hue, and lips like wild cher
ries. This was Princess Elizabeth, and
all eyes were turned towards her as she
seated herself in the velvet cushioned
pew appropriat to the court. The mys-
terious organist fixed his eyes on her and
went on playing.
No sooner had tho music reached her
ears, than she startlcdi.as il ghost had
crossed her path. The bloom faded from
her cheeks, her lips quivered, ami her
whole frame grew tremulous. At last
her eyes met those of the organst in
long; yearning look, and then the melo-
dy lost its joyous notes and once more
walled and sighed and caniored.
"By my faith" whispered the King to
his daughter, this orgunist has a master
hand. Hark ye, my child, 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 painful dream
she saw The pal7 man at the organ, and
heard the melody which filed the vast
edifce. Ay, full well she knew who he
was, and why the instrument seemed
breathing out the agony Of tortured
heart.
When the service was over, and the
royal party had lsft the cathedral, he stole
away as mysteriDusly as he came. He
was not seen again by the sexton until
the yespcr hour, and then appeared in
the lott and commenced his task. While
he played veiled figure glided in and
knelt by side shrine. There che re-
NAMED till the worshippers disappeared,
when the sexton touched her on the arm
aud said
Madam, everybody Inns gone but you
and me, and / wish to close the doors. I"
The sexton drew into shady niche,
aud watched and listened. The nlyste-
rious organist still kept his post, but he
conid not see the lone devotee. Al
length she rose from the aisle, aud
moving 10 the organ loft, paused b. side
the musician.
"Bertrsm," she murmured. r1 Z ias 4