The Democratic advocate., 1871-07-13
Select Story.
THE MYSTERIOUS oRGANIsT.

AnG M mIoAEhlUuo Uh6ANlST.
At a grand cathedral overlooking the
Rhine there appeared distinguished
organist. The great composer who had
played the organ so much had suddenly
died, aud every body, from the king to
the pesant, was wondering who could
be found to fill his place, when one
bright Sabbath morning, as the sexton
entered the church, he saw stranger
sitting ut the crape.shrouded organ.
He was tall, graceful man, with pale
but strikingly handsome f.ce, great black
melancholy eyes, and hair like the raven s
wings for gloss aud color; sweeping
in dark waves over his shoulders. He
did not seem to notice the sexton, but
went on playing, aud such music as he
drew from the instrument no words OF
mine can describe. The astouished
listener declared that the organ seemed
to have grown humau--that it walled
and sighed aud clamored US if its tor.
'tured human heart were throbbing
through its pipes.
When the music at length ceased, the
sexton hastened to the stranger and
asked:
Pray, who are you, sir"
"Dou't ask my name," he replied /;
=" have heard That you were in want
: OF an orgauist, and | have come here on
trial"
You'll be sure to get the place" I"
exclaimed the sexton. why, you sur.
pass him that's dead aud gone"
"No, no, you overrate me-" said the
stranger, with smile; then, as if dis.
inclined to conversation, he turned from
old Hans, and began to play again, and
now the music changed IRON sorrow.
ful strain to a grand old p@ln, aud the
mysterious old orgauist
Looking upward full of grace
Playing still from a happy place
Gods glory smote him in the face,
and his countenancc seemed not unlike
that Of St. Michael, as portrayed by
Guido.
Lost in the melodies which swelled
around him, he sat with his "!ar seeing"
eyes fixed on the distant sky, glimpse
of which he caught through an open
window, when there was stir about
the church door, aud a royal party came
sweeping in. Among them might be
seen a bright youus girl, with wealth
of golden hair, eyes like the violet's
hue, aud lips like wild cherries. This
was the Princess Elizabeth and all eyes
were turned towards her as she seated
herself in the velvet-cushioned pew ap.
propriated to the court. The mysteri
gus organist fixed his eye upon her aud
went on playing. No sooner had the
music reached her ears than she started
us IL d ghost had crossed her path. The
blood iided from her crimson cheek
her lips quivered, aud her whole frame
grew tremdlods. At last her eyes met
those Of the orgauist in a long, yearn,
ing look, aud the melody lost its joyous
notes, aud once more walled add sighed
aud clariored.
"By faith," whispered the King to
bis daughter, ''tbis orgauist has mas.
ter hand. Hark ye, he shall play at
your wedding"
/. The pale lips Of the princess parted,
but she could not speak she wis dumb
with grief. Like one in painful dream,
fhe saw the pale man at the organ aud
heard the melody which filled the vast
edifce. Ay, full well she knew who il
was and why the instrument seemed
breathing out the agony oil a tortured
RSart.
When the services were over and the
royal party had lett the cathedral, he
stole away as mysteriously as he had
come. lie was not seen again by the
sexton till the vesper hour, and then he
appeared in the organ loft aud com
menced his task. Whom he played, a
veiled figure glided ID, aud knelt near o
shrine.
There she remained until the worship.
Pers disappeared, when the sexton
TOUGHER her ON the shoulder aud said
Madame, everybody has gone but
you and me, aud l wish to close the
door,"
~ am not ready 20 go yet" was the
reply; "leaye me---leave me p
The sexton drew back iuto snady
niche, and watched and listened. The
mysterious organist still KEEP. his post,
and his head was bowed upon the in.
,strument, and he could not SEQ the loue
.devotee. AT length she rose from the
aisle, and moving to the organ loft
,pansed beside the organist.
"Bertram |" she murmured.
Quick rs thought the organist raised
ibis head. There, with the light Of the
lamp suspended above stood the Prin,
cess, who had graced tho royal pew tina,
day. The ,caurt dress Of velvet, with
Its ermine trimmings, the tiara, the
necklace, the bracelets, had been ex
changed fora gray serge robe aud !
long thick veil, ghich was now pushed
back from the fair. girlish face.
"Mhy are You here, Bertram p ask ed
sthe Princess.
II came to bid you farewell and as
dared not venture into the palace,
gained access to the cathedral by brib.
iaeg the tbellsringer, and .haviog taken