Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1867-12-19
THE MYSTERIOUS oRaAN1sr.
A LEGEND OF THE RHINE.

"Kind hearts are more than eoronets,
And simple faith than Norman blood"
Years ago, at a grand old cathe.
dral overlooking the Rhine, there ap-
peared mysterious organist. The
great composer who had played the
organ so long had suddenly died,
and everybody from the king to the
peasant, was wondering who could
be found to Gil his place, when one
bright Sabbath morn, as the sexton
entered the church he saw stranger
sitting at the crape-shrouded organ.
He was tall, graceful man, with a
pale but strikingly handsome face,
great, black melancholy eyes, and
hair like the ravens wing for gloss
and color, sweeping like dark waves
over his shoulders. He di6 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 instrument t
seemed to have grown human-that
it walled and sighed and clamcred,
as if tortured human heart was
throbbing through its pipes.
When the music at length ceased,
the sexton fastened to the stranger
and said, Pray, who are you, sir?'
DO no. ask my name, he replied.
4 have heard YOU are in want of an
organist, and l 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- re-
sumed the stranger, with a sad smile;
and then, as if disinclined to CONVEX
sation, he turned from old Hans and
began to play again. And now the
music changed from sorrowful strain
to a grand old paan, and the myste-
rious organist,
"'Looking upwards full Of grace,
Prayed, till from happy place
Gods glory smote him in the face"
Lost in the harmenies which swelled
around him, he sat with his far seeing
eye fixed on the distant sky, q
glimpse of which he caught through
an open window, when there was q
stir about the door, and royal party
came sweeping in. Among them
might be seen young girl with q
wealth of golden hair, eyes like the
violet's hue. and lips like the ripe
cherries. This was the Princess
Elizabeth; and all eyes were turned
to her, as she seated herself in the
velvet, cushioned pew appropriated
to the court. The mysterious organ
ist fixed his eyes on her, and went
on playing. No sooner had the music
reached her ear than she started rs
if ghost had crossed her path
The blood faded from her cheek,
her lip quivered, and her whole
frame grew tremulous.
At last her eyes met those of the
organist, in q long, yearning look,
and the melody lost its joyous notes,
and once more walled and clam
ored. s... ,.......
BY my faith, whispered the king
to his daughter, this organist has q
master hand. Hark ye! he shall play
at your wedding.
The pale lips OF the princess part.
ed, 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 mel
ody which filled the vast ed;fice.-
Aye, full well she knew who he was,
and why the instrument seemed
breathing out agony of a tortured
heart.
When the service was over, and the
royal party had left the cathedral, he
had gone. He was not seen again
by the sexton till the vesper hour,
and then he appeared in the ergsn
loft and commenced his task. While
he played veiled figure glided in
and knelt near shrine. There she
remained till the wershippers dis
persed, when the sexton touched her
on the shoulder and said:
Madam, everybody has gone but
you and me, and I wish to close the
DOORS
i am not ready to go yet was the
reply; leave me-leave!
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 devotee. At length
she rose from the aisle, and moving
to the organ loft, paused beside the
instrument.
'Bertram,' she murmured.
Quick as thought the organist
raised his head. There. with the
light Of . lamp suspended 70 the