The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-05-12
Ry W. ALEE AND HUGH WILSON.

devotee. At length she rose from tn
aisle, and moving TO the organ loft
\ paused besidethe olganist.s g. z
/: Bertrand" SHE murmered.
j Quick as thought the organist raiI
led his head. There, with the light c
the lamp suspended to the arch abov
falling full upon her, stood tn
Princess, who had graced the roya
pew that day. The court dress O
velvet, with its ermine trimmings, tn
tiara, the necklace, the bracelets ha
been exchanged for gray serge rob
and long thick veil, which was now
pushed back from the fair, girlisl
face.
"Why arc you here, Bertram ?
asked the Princess
| 8 II came to bid you farewell; and a
I dared not to venture into the palace
| gaiued access to the cathedrl BY
bribing the bcll-ringer, and having
taken the seat Of he deal organist
let my music breathe out the adieu
could not trust my lips to utter"
A low moan was the only answer
and lie continued
"You are to be married on the NOR
row."
"Yes," sobbed the girl. "Oh
Bertram, trial it will be to stand al
yonder altar, and take upon me the
vows which will doom me to living
DEATH, = -.... .-... -...,.. Z
5. AsThink. of me- reioined the organ.
list. "Your royal father has requested
me to play-at the, wedding, and l have
promised to be here. If were your
equal I could be the brid groom instead
of the organist; but poor musician
must give you up"
"It is like rending my soul and body
asunder to part with you," said the
girl. "To.night 1 may tell you this
tell you how fondly L love you: but in
"a few hours it will ba siuI Go, go,
God bless you"
She waved him from her, as if she
would Danish him while she had the
power to do sos and hc--how was it
with him! He arose to leave her,
then came back, held her to his heart
IN a long embrace. with q hall
smothered farewell, left her.
The next morning dawned in cloud
ness espleudor. At an early hour the
cathedral waythrown open and the
sexton began to prepare for the we'd
ding. Flame-colorcd flowers nodded
by the wayside--fame coiered leaves
came dashilg down the trees and lay
in heaps upon the ground; and the
ripe wheat waved like a golden sea,
and berries dropped in red and pur'
pie clusters over the rocks along the
Rhine.
At length the palace gates were
opened and the: royal part y..appeared,
escorling the Princess Elizabeth to
the cathedral. where tho marriage
was to be solemnized.
1t was bright pageant -. far
brighter than the entwined foliage and
blossoms where the tufts of plum IS
which foated from stately heads and
festal robes that streamed down over
the housing Of the superb steeds
But the Princess. mounted on snowy
palfrey, and clad in snow white velvet
looked pale and sad; and when, on
nearing the church, she heard a gusE
Of organ music, which. though abb
liant in sound, struck on her ear like 4
funeral knell-she trcmhed and
would have fallen to the earth, had
not d page supported her. A few
minutes attcrwa ds she entered the
cathedral. There with his retinue
stood heroyal bridegroom, when si't
had never before seen. But her
glance roved from him to the organ
loft, where she had expected. thai
mysterious organist. He was gone
and she was Obliged to return the
graceful bow, of the King, to whom
She had been lbetrothed from motives
.of pohcy. Mechanically she knelt al
his side on the altar 'stone; mechani
cally listened to the service and made
the response.
Tncns here husband drew her IL
him in a convulsive embrace, ant
whispered: = Il
elizabeth, my queen, my wife
look up"
Trembling in every limb, she obey
ed Why did those eyes thrill her SO
Why did that smile bring, glow Oh
her checks? -
Ahl though the Hing wore tn
royal purple and-many d jcweled or
der glittered on his breast, he seemed
| the humble person who had been EN-
ployed to teach organ music, and hat
taught her the lore Of love.
|, elizabeth" murmured the mon
arch, "Bertram Hoffman, the mystc
rious organist. and King Oscar (th
Royal Free Mason) are one. Forglv'
my stratagem. I wished to MARI,
You, but ] would not drag To the alta
an unwilling bride. Your father wa
in the secret"
| While tears of Joy raincd from he
blue eyes, the new-made qreen re
! turned her husbands fond kisses, an
for once two hearts were made happ,
by royal marriage. ----,s.--~.-.--