The Democratic advocate., 1871-07-13

music Breathe out the adied could not
trust my lips to utter"
A low moan was tile ouly answer,
and he continued:
"You are to be married on the NOR.
ROW."
"Yes," sobbed the girl. "Oh Ber.
tram, what trial it will be to stand at
youder altar, and take Upon me the
VOWS which will doom me to living
DEATH"
Think Of me-" rejoined the orgauist.
"Your royal father has requested me to
play at the wedding, aud | have prom.
ised to be hete. II were your equal
I could be the bridegroom instead of the
organist; but a poor musician must
give you up"
at is like rending my body and soul
asunder to part with you,' said the
girl. "To.night l may tell you this
tell you how fondly love you, but in
few hours it will be d sin 60, 60,
God bless you"
She waved him from her, as if she
would Danish while she had the power
to do so; and he--how was it with him !
He arose to leave her, then came back held
her to his heart in long embrace, with
half smothered farewell, and left her
The next morning dawned in cloud
less splendor. At an early hour the
cathedral was thrown open and the sex.
ton began to prepare for the wedding
Flame colored flowers nodded by the
wayside-famc colored leaves came
dashing down the trees and lay in heaps
upon the ground (; aud the ripe wheat
waved like a golden sea, aud berries
dropped in red and purple clusters over
the rocks along the Rhine.
At lengththe palace gates were opened
and the royal party appeared, escortiug
the Princess Elizabeth to the cathedral,
where the marriage was to be solemnized
1t was bright pageant-far brighter
than the eutwined foliage and blossoms
where the tufts of plumes which foatcd
from stately heads aud festal robes that
streamed down over the housings Of the
superb steeds.
But the Princess, mounted on a
snowy palfrey, and clad in snow white
velvet, looked pale and sad; aud when
on ne,ring the church, she heard gush
of organ music, which, though jubiont
in sound, struck on her ear like fu.
neral kuell-she trembled aud would
have fallen to the earth, had not page
81 A
wards she entered the cathedral. There
with his retinue stood the royal bride.
groom, whom she had never before seen
But her glance roved from him to the
organ loft, where she had expected that
mysterious organist. lie was gone, and
she was obliged to return the graceful
bow Of the Kiug, to whom she had been
betrothed from motives Of policy. Me
chauically she knelt ut his side on the
altar stone; mechanically listened to the
service and made the response.
Then her husband drew her to aim
in convulsive embrace, and whispered:
Elizabeth, my queen, my wife, look
up"
Trembling in every limb, she obeyed
Why did those eyes thrill her SO? Why
did that smile bring a glow on her
checks
All though the King wore the royal
purple and many jeweled order gilt
tered on his breast, he seemed the hum
BILE person who had been employed to
teach organ music, and had taught her
the lore of love.
Elizabeth" murmured the monarch,
"Bertram Hoffman, the mysterious or.
ganist, and King Oscar 0he Royal Free
hlason) are one. Forgive my strata
gem. l wished to marry you, but |
would not drag to the altar an unwilling
bride. Your father was. in the secret"
While tears of joy rained from her
blue eyes, the new made queen returned
her husbands fond kisses, and for once
two hearts were made happy by royal
marriage.