Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1871-06-17
The Mysterious 0gganist.

At grand cathedra, overlooking the Rhine
there appeared distinguished orgaDist. The
great com poser who had played the organ SO
much had suddenly died, and every body, from
the king to the peasant, was wondering who
could be found to fill his place, when one
bright Sabbath morning, as the sexton enter
ed the.church, be saw a stranger sitting at
the c-ape-shrouded organ. He was a tall,
graceful man, with pale bat strikirgy hand
some face, great black melancholy eyes, and
bair like the ravens wing for gloss aad color
sweeping in da.k waves over bis shoulders
lie did not seem to notice the sexton, but went
on PLAYING, aud such music as he drew from
tae instrument no words of mine can describe.
The astonished listener declared that the organ
seemed to have grown humsn-that II walled
aud sighed and clamored as il its tortured hu-
man heart were throbbi1g through its pipes.
When the music at length ceased, the sex
ton FASTENED to the strange: aud asked;
"Pray, who are you, SIR,
&" Don't ask NY name, he replied J" | have
heard that you were in want Of an organiSt,
and have cone here on trial"
"You'll be sue to Get the place" exclaimed
the sexton. "Why, you surpass lin that's
dead ard gone."
"No, no, you overrate me" said the stran-
ger, with a smile then, as if disincliEed TO
conversation, he turned from old Fans, and
began TO play again, and now the music
changed from a sorrowful stream to grand
old pcael, and the mysterious old organist:
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 swellcd around
him, he sat with his " far-seeing eyes fixed on
the distant sky, glimpse of which be 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 bright young girl, with wealth Of
golden hair, eyes like the violetS hue, ard lips
like wild cherries. This was the Princess
Elizabeth and all eyes were turned towards
her as she seated herself in the velvet-cushion-
ed pew appropriated to the court. The mys-
terious organist fixed lis eye upon her aod
went to 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, AID her
whole frame grow tremulous. At last her
eyesmet those of the organist in q long, yearn-
ing look, and the melody lost its joyous notes,
and once more walled and sighed and clamor-
ed
"By faith" whispered the King to his
daughter, a." this organst has master hand
Hark ye, he shall play at your wedding"
The pale lips Of the princess parted, but she
could not speak-she was dumb with grief
Like one in painful dream, she saw the pale
man at the organ and heard the melody which
filled the vast edfce Ay, full well she knew
who i. was and why the instrument seemed
breathing out the agony Of tortured heart.
When the services were over and the roy
al party had left the cathedral, he stole away
as mySterously as he had come. He wos not
seen again by the sexton till the vesper hour,
and then he appeared 10 the organ loft and
commenced his task. When he played, veil
ed figure glided in, and knelt near shrine
There she remained until the worshippers
when the sexton touched her on
the shoulder and said:
Madame, everybody has gone but you and
me, and l wish to close the door,"
al am not ready to 60 yet" was the reply;
" leave me-leavs me-
The sexton drew back into a shady niche,
aad watched and listened. The mysterious
organist still kept his post, and 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 organiSt.