The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-06-12
The .uysser.osss Orsa,s,ss
A LEGEND OF THE RHINE.

a LEGEND OF Tx RHINE.
Years nro. nj the grand cathedral over.
looking the Rhine, there appeared mys-
tcrious organist. The great composer who
had played the organ so long hal suddenly
died, and everybody. from the King to the
peasant, was wondering who could be
found to Gil his place, when one bright
Sabbath morning, as the sexton entere'i
the church, he saw stranger sitting at the
cmpc-shrowdcd organ. lilo was a tall,
graceful man, with pale but strikingly
handsome face, great black, melancholy
eyes, AMI hair like the ravens wing Tor
gloss and color. sweeping in dark waves
over his shoulders. Ito did not sccm to
notice the sexton, hut went ON playing. md
such music rs he drew from the instrument
M words Of mine Gun describe. The rs
tonisllcd listener declared That the organ
seemed to havo grown human-that il
walled and sighed and clamor,l, rs if
tortured human heart wero throbbing
through its pipes.
When the music at length ceased, tho
sexton fastened to the sirungcr and asked
'Pray, who arc you, sirf'
"Do not ask my name" no replied; 81
have heard that you are in want Of an or
ganist, and have come here OIL trial."
"You'll bo sure to get tho place" eS-
claimed The sexton. "Why, you surpass
him that is dead and gone, sir"
'No. no, you overaie me-" resumed tho
stranger, with smile; and then, rs if dis.
inclined to conversation, he turned from old
Hans and hogan to play again. And now
the music changed from u sorrowful strain
tn n grand old pcan, and the mysterious
organis,-
"Looking upward full Of grace,
Playing still 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 melodies which swelled
around him, no sat with his iar.seeing eyes
fixed on the Tar distant sky, n glimpse Of
which he caught through an open window,
when there was a stir about the church
door, and n royal party. came sweeping in.
Among them might be seen bright young
girl. with wealth Of golden hair, eyes like
the violets hue and lips like wild cherries.
This was the Princess Elizabeth, and all
eyes were turned towards her rs she seated
herself in the velvet cushioned pew appro.
pratch to the court. The mysterious or.
ganist fixed his eyes upon her, and went on
playing. No sooner had The music reached
her ears than she started rs if u ghost had
crossed her path. The blood faded from
her crimson check, her lips quivered, and
her whole frame grew trcmulous. AT last
her eyes met those of the organist in n long
ycarninc look, and the melody lost its JOY
Gus notes and once more walled anu sighed
an,. ciuinored. - 60.
"By faith" whispered the King to his
daughter, "this organist has master hand. |
tiark We, he shall play ut your wedding"
The pale lips Of the Princess parted, but
she could not spcak-sho was dumb with
grief. Like ono in a painful dream she
saw the pale man ut the organ, AMI heard
the melody which filed tho vast edificc.
Ay, full well she knew who it was and why
the instrument seemed breathing out tho
agony OF a tortured heart.
When the services wero over AMI the
royal party had left the cathedral, he stole
away as my stcriously us he had come. lie
was not seen again by tho sexton ill the
vcspcr hour, and then no appeared in The
organ loft and commenced his task. While
ho played vcilod figure elidcd in, and
kneIt near side shrine. There she 70.
manned until the woshippers disappeared,
der AMI said:
.Nladamc. everybody has gone hut you
and mo. and wislito close the door,"
~ am not ready to so yet was tho re-
ply "leave me-lenve me :"
The sexton drew hack into shady niche
and watched and listened. The inysteri.
o,,s orgunist still kept his post, but his head
wus bowel upon tho instrument, and he
could no, SEQ the lone dcvotcc. Al length
she rose from tho aisle, and moving To the
organ lofi paused beside the orgnnist.
.Bcrtram :" she miirinurcd.
Quick rs thought the orgnnist raIscd ms
head There, with the light oil n lamp sis-
pcn,le,l to the arch above falling full upon
icr. stood the Princess who had graced
the royal pew that day. The court dress
OF velvet, with its ennine trimmings, the
tiaru, the neck lacc, tho bracelets. had been
exchanged TOR gray serge rohc and long
thick veil which was now pushed back from
the fair, eirlish face. =,
.why arc you hero, Bertrnm y asked the
Princess. .--. :,
Il came to bid you farewell; AMI rs
dare no, venture into the palace. I gnincd
access to the cathedral by bribing the bell.
ringer, and having taken the seat Of the
dead oryanist, lot my music breathe out the
adicu I could not trust my lips to utter"
A low moan was tho only answer, nnd
he continued:
"You are to 10 married on the NOR.
row."
.Ycr," sobbc,l tho girl. "Oh Bertram,
-. "a l,<. nj ys,r. lar MI
tar, and take upon inc the vows which will
doom inc to living,lca tn"
"Think Of me-" ejoined tho organist.
"Your royal father has requested mo to.
day at the wedding, nnd have promised to
lie here. II ! were your equal could 10
| the bridegroom instead Of tho organist but
a poor musician must give you up.
"lt Is like rendiny my soul and body
as,inder to part with YOU" said the girl.
ITO night may tell you this-,ell you how
fondly love you, bat in few hours Il will
be sin. Go, go. and God bless YOU"
She waved him from her, rs fshe would
Danish him while she had tho power to- do
so, anil he-how was Il with him? lie a.
rose to leave her, then came back, held her
ON his heart in long embrace, and with u
half smothercd farewell, left her.
The next morning dawned in cloudlcss
splcndor. Al AN early hour the cathedral
was thrown open, and the sexton began to
prepare for the wedding. Flame colored
flowers. nodded BY the wayside-tiame col.
orri leaves cane rushing down from tho
trees and lay in heaps upon the ground; and
the ripe wheat waved like golden sea, and
benie. dropped n red y. sni RLinr .p'' CLUSTERS
Ar length the palace gates were opened
and the royaI parry appeared cscorting. the
Prince Elizabeth to tho cathedral, where
her marriage was to bc solen'nizcd.
it.was a brave pageant far brighter than
the untwined foliage and blossoms werc tho
tufts Of plumes which foa,ed from stately
heads and festal robes that srsamcd down
over the housings Of the superb steeus
Bn, the Princess, mounted on a snowy lni'
Trey, aud clad in snow white velvet, look