Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1868-02-13
The Mysterious 0rganist.
a LEGEND OF THE RHINE.

terious organ.st The great composer who
had played he organ SO long had suddenly
died, and everybody. from the King to the
peasant, was wondering who could be
found to fill his place, when, one bright
sabbath morning. as the sexton entered
the church, he saw a stranger sitting at the
crapeshrouded organ, He was !: tall,
graceful man, with pale but strikingly
handsome face, great black. melancholy
eyes, aud 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 be drew from the in
strument no words of mine can describe.
The astonished listener declared that the
organ seemed to have grown human
that it walled and sighed and clamorea, as
if tortured human heart were throbbing
through lis pipes.
When the music had at length ceased
the sexton FASTENED to the stranger and
asked
Pray. who are you. sir?"
ID" not ask thy name he replied, II
have heard that YOU are in want of au Or
ganst, and have come here on trial"
t You'll be sure to get the place" ex-
claimed the sexton. Why you surpass
him that's dead aud gone. sir"
No no, you overrate me-" resumed
the stranger. With . smile snG then, as if
disinclined to conversation, he turned from
old Hans and began to play again And
now the music changed from a sorrowful
strain to grand Old pecan, aud the mys-
Looking upward. full of grace, '
| Plays still from happy place
| Gods CORY smoe him on the face
and his ceuntenance seems not unlike that
Of St. Michael, as portrayed by Guido
Lost IN the melodies which swelled
around him. he sat with his far seeing"
eyes fixed Oh the far distant sky. glimpse
of which he caught through AN open win
dow, when there was ii stir about the church
door. and regal Iarty came sweeping in
Among them might be seen bright young
| girl, with a wealth of golden hair, ewes,
like the victor's hue and lips like wild
cherries This was the Princess Elizabeth,
and al! eyes were turned towards her as
she seated herself in the velvet cushioned
pew appropriated to the court. The mys-
ferrous ergsnst fixed his eyes upon her,
aud went on playing. No sooner had the
music reached her ears than she started, as
If a ghost had crossed her path, The blood
faded from her crimson cheek, her lips
quivered. and her whole frame grew trem-
ulous.. At last her eyes met those of the
organst IN long yearning look, and the
melody lost It's 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 speaks was dumb with
grief. Like oae in painful dream. she saw
tae pale han at the organ, and heard the
melody which filled the vast edifce Ay.
! fill well she knew who it was and why
the instrument seemed breathing out the
agony Of a tortured heart
| When the services were over, and the
royal party had left the cathedral, he stole
away as mysteriousiy as be 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 a vailed figure glided in. and
knelt near side shrine. There she re-
manned until the worshipers disappeared,
4 when the sexton touched her on the shout
der 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 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 deyotee At
length she rosc FROM the aisle, and moving
| to the organ loft passed the organist.
,"Bertram..'' she luurtnured.
Quick as thought she org.nist raised his
head There, with the Ugh Of 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 brackets, had been
exchanged for gray serge robe and
long thick vail. which was now pushed
back from the fair. girlish face.
why are you here. Bertram 2" asked
the Princess.
| Il came to bid you farewell and I
dare not venture into the palace. gained
access to the cathedral by bribing the
bell-riuger. and having taken the seat of
the dead organist. let my music breathe on
the adieu | could not trust my lips to ut
ter "
| A low moan was the only answer. and
he continued
You are to be married on the NOR
row p
YES" sobbed the girl ooh. Ber-
! tram. what a trial it will be to stand at
yonder altar. and take upon me the VOWS