The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-05-12
THE MYSTERIOUS ORGANIST.

At grand cathedral overlooking
athe Rhine there appeared a distin-
:guishcd organist. The great compo'
ser who had played the organ so
lnuch had suddenly died, and every
;body. from king to the peasant, was
wondering who could be.found" to fill
his place, ;wheu one bright Sabbath
morning, as the sexton entered the
church, he saw saw a stranger sit
ting at the crape.shrouded organ.
He was tall, graceful man, with a
pale but strikiHgly. ~handsome. face,
great black melancholy 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 mnsicas he drew
from the instrumentno words of mine
can describe. The astoniShcd listener
declared that the organ seemed to
have grown human-that it walled
:and sighed and .clamored as if its tor
tured human heart were tbrobbing
through its pipes. .#&E
When the music at length ceased,
the sexton hastcned to the stranger
and asked: ,.-.
''Pray who are you, sir"
"Do not ask my name," he replied; !;
,". have heard that you were in want
of an organist, and / have come here
on trial.
"You'll bo sure to get the place."
exclaimed the sexton. "Why, you
surpass him that's dead and gone" ....
"No, no, you overrate me- said the
stranger, with a smile; then. as if dis
inclined to conversation, be turned
from old Hans, and began to play
again, and now the music changed
from sorrowful strain to = grand
old pacan, and the mysterious old Or
.ganist: 4. s,..a .s
Looking upward full of grace Z
Playing still from happy place. =. :
Gods glory smote him in the face,
,and his counteuance seemed not un.
like that of st. Michael: :,s portrayed
'by 'Guido.
Lost in the melodies which swelled
around him, he sat with his "far-see
ing" eyes fixed onz the distant sky, 0
glimpse ofwhchShe caught through
an open window, when there was q
stir about the church door, and a
royal party came sweeping in
Among them might be seen n bright
young girl, with. a wealth OF: gclder
hair, eyes like the violet's hae, and
lips like wild cherries. This was tht
Princess Elizabeth, and all eyes were
turned towards her as she seated her
self in the velvet-cushioned pew ap
propriated to the COURT Theemyste
rious organist. fixed his eye upon heI
and went to playing. No.seoner hae
the music reached her:ears than sh'
started as if a ghost had crossed he
path. The blood faded from hel
crimson cheek, her lips qnivered, ant
her whole frame grew tremulous A
last her eyes met the organist,in I
long, yearning look. and the melod,
lost: its joyous notes, and once; NOR
walled and sighed and clamored.
"By faith" whispered the King t.
his daughter, "this organist. has (,
master hand. Hark ye, he shall pla.
at your wedding"
The pale lips Of the princess parted
but she could not speak-she wa
dumb with grief. Like one in d paiu
full dream, she saw the pale man q
the organ and heard the melod;
which filed the vast edi6ce. Ay, fu
well sbs knew who it was and VIII
tho instrument seemed breathing ou
the agony of a tortured heart. r s
When The services were. over an
the royalpartyehad left the cathedra
he stole away as mysteriously as h
had come lie was not seen again b.
the sexton till the vesper hour, an
then he appeared in the organ loft an
commenced his task. When be pluy
ed, aeveiled figure gGdsd in, and knc
near shrine. There she rename
until the. worshippers, disappeared
when the sexton touched her on th
shoulder and said .a =. -seS a
Madame, everybody has gone br
you and me, and I wish to close ii
door," .,--.--.. --...
II am not ready to 60 yet" W:
the reply; "leave me-loave meP'
The sexton drew back into shac
niche. and watched and listened. III