Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-09-27

The Mysterious Organist;
A LEGEND OF THE RHINE.
Kind hearts are more than cOronets,
And simple faith than Norman blood. .

ears ago, at the grand old cathedral
overlooking the Rhine, there appeared a
mysterious organist. The great composer
who had played the organ so long had sud
denly died, and everybody from the king
TO the peasant, was wondering who could
be found to fill his place, when, one bright
Sabbath morn, as the sexton entered the
church, he saw a stranger sitting at the
crape-shrouded organ. He was a tall,
graceful man, with pale but striking
handsome face, with great black, melan-
choly eyes, and hair like the ravens wing
for gloss and color, sweeping in 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 in
strument no words of mine can describe
The astonished listener declared that the
organ seemed to have grown human-that
il walled and sighed and clamored, as if a
tortured human heart were throbbing
through Its pipes
When the music had at length ceased,
the sexton hastened to the stranger, and
said Pray, who are you sir -
Do not ask me my name" he replied
have heard that you are in want of an
organist, and | have come here on trial. y
You'll be sure to get the place." ex-
claimed the sexton. Why, you surpass
him that's dead and gone, sir :! p"
No, no you overrate me- resumed
the stranger, with a sad smile and then
as if disinclned to conversation, he turned
from old Hans, and began to play again
And now the music changed from sorrw
ful strain to a grand old pean, and the
mysterious organist,
'Lookng upwards full of grace
Prayed till from happy place
Gods glory smote him in the face
and his countenance seemed not unlike that
of St. Michael, as portrayed by Guido.
Lost in the harmonies which swelled
around him. he sat with his 50 far seeing -
eyes fixed on the distant sky, glimpse OF
which he caught through an open window,
when there was stir about the church
door, and royal party came sweeping in.
Among them might be seen a young girl
with a wealth of golden hair. eyes like the
violet's hue, and lips like the wild cherries.
This was the Princess Elizabeth and all
eyes were turned TO her, as she seated her
self In the yelvet-cushioned pew appropri-
ated 20 the court The mysterious organ
pIaving. No sooner had the music reached
her ears, than she started, as if ghost
had crossed her path. The blood faded
from her check, her lips quivered, and her
whole frame grew tremulous. At last her
eyes met those of the organist, III long
vearning look, and the melody lost its
JOYOUS notes and once more walled, and
sighed, and clamored.
By faith. whispered the king to his
daughter, this organist has master hand.
Hark ye, he shall play at your wedding ?"
The pale lips of the princess parted,
but she could not speak-shc was dumb
with grief. Like one iii painful dream,
she saw the pale man at the organ, and
heard the melody which filled the vast
edifice Ay, full well she knew who he
was. and why the instrument seemed
breathing out the agony ola tortured heart.
When the service was over, and the
royal party had left the cathedral, 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
ne played, yelled figure glided in, and
knelt near side shrine There she re-
manned till the worshipers disappeared,
when the sexton touched her on the shoul-
der and said
=. Madam, everybody has gone but you
and me, and | wish to close the DOORS
= | am not ready to 90 yet" was the re-
ply leave me-leave me.
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
musician.
Bertram," she murmured.
Quick a thought the organist raised his
head There, with the light of a lamp sus-
pended 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 its ermine trimmings, the tiara,
the necklace, the bracelets. had been ex-
changed for gray serge robe and a long
thick veil, which was now pushed back
from the fair girlish face.
oh Elizabeth. Elizabeth " exclaimed
the organist. and he sunk at her feet, and
gazed wistfully into her troubled eyes.
Why are you here, Bertram ?" asked
the princess.
-. came to bid you farewell; and l
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 I could not trust my lips to
utter
\ low moan was the only answer, and
nc continued:
You are to be married on the morrow ?"
YES" sobbed the girl. "Oh, Bert
ram. what Il trial it will be to stand at
wonder altar. and take upon me the vows
which will doom me to living death -
Think of me-" rejoined the organist.
" Your royal father has requested me to
play at the wedding, and have promised
TO be here. If [ were your equal, could
be the bridegroom instead of the organist !;
but "a poor musician must give you up"
1t is like rending soul and body asun-
der. to part with you," said the girl. " To-
night I may tell you this-tell you how
fondIy love you, but in few hours it
will be a sin Go, go, and God bless you y
She waved him from her, as if she would
banish him while she had the power to do
30. and he-how was it with him? He
rose to leave her, then came back, held
her to his heart in long embrace, and
with half smothered farewell left her.
The next morning dawned in cloudless
spleudor. and at an early hour the cathe-
dral was thrown open, and the sexton be-