Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1867-10-10

AShONJ NhibA AiAN'A NhS ''f'N Nss'NSN
Ay, full we'll she knew who he was
and why the instrument seemed
breathing out the agony Of a tor
tured heart. r....
When the service was over, and
the royal party had left the cathe'
dral, he stole away as mysteriously
as he had come. He was not seen
again by the sexton till the vesper
hour, and then he appeared in the
organ loft and commenced his task,
While he played, vailed figure gil
ded in and knelt near q side shrine.
There she remained till the wor-
slippers dispersed, when the sexton
touched her on the shoulder and
said
Madam, everybody has gone but
you and me, and / wish to close the
doors"
81 am not ready to go YETI was
the reply; 'leave me-leave"
| The sexton drew back into a sha-
dy 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
musician. ..
"Bertraim," she murmured.
Quick as thought the organist
raised his head. There, with the
light of the lamp suspended to the
arch above falling full upon her,
stood the princess who had graced
the royal pew that day The court
dress of velvet, with soft ermine
trimmings, the tiara, the necklace,
the bracelets, had been exchanged |
for a gray serge robe and a long
thick veil, which was now pushed
back from the fair, girlish face.
ooh Elizabeth, Elizabeth % ex-
claimed the organist, and he sank
at her feet and gazed wistfulIy into
her troubled eyes.
"Why are you here, Bertraim p
asked the princess.
Il came to bid you farewell and |
as dared not venture into the pal
ace, | gained access to the cathedral
by bribing the bcll-ringer, and hav-
ing taken the seat vacated by 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
?"
=" Yes" sobbed the girl. "Oh,
what a trial it will be to
stand at yonder altar and take upon
me the vows which will doom me to
4 living death! y
"Think of me-" rejoined the or
ganist. "Your royal father has re-
luested me to play at the wedding,
and l have promised to be here
If l were your equal, l could be the
bridegroom instead of the organist;
out poor musician must give you
lp."
at is like rending soul and body
lsunder to part with you" said the
girl. Tonight l may tell you this
tell you how fondly / love you, !
)ut in a few hours it will be a sin ! ,
20, go, and God bless vou"
She waved him from her, as if she
would Danish him while yet she had '
he power to do so; and he how |
vas it with himS He rose to leave I
Ter, then came back and held her to 4
lis heart in a long embrace, and t
hen with a half-smothered farewell, t
eft her. !
The next morning dawned in :
loudlcss splendor, and at an early '
our the cathedral was thrown open /
nd the sexton began to prepare for t
he wedding. Flame-colored flow c
rs nodded by the wayside-fame- {
olorcd leaves came rushing down !
rom the trees, and lay in light c
eaps upon the ground; and the c
ipe wheat waved like a golden sea,
nd berries dropped in red and pur- ;.
lie clusters over the rocks along the :
chine.
At length the palace gates were i,
,pened, and the royal party appear II
d, escorting the Princess Elizabeth a
o the cathedral, where her mar h
iage was to be solelnnized. 1t .