Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-06-01
he adieu I could not trust my lips to

the adieu I could not trust my lips tc
utter"
A low moan was the only answer
and he continued:
You are to be married on the
morrow ?"
"Yes," sobbed the girl. "oh,l
Bertram, what a trial it will be to
stand at yonder altar, and take upon
me the vows which will doom me to a
living death. "
Think Of me, "rejoined the organ
ist. Your royal father has request
ed me to play at the wedding, and I
have promised to be here. if I were
your equal I could be the bridegroom
instead of the organist; but a poor
musician must give you up"
"It is like rending my soul and
body asunder to part with you" said
the girl. Tonight I may tell you
thisStell you how fondly l love you,
but in few hours itwillbe asin Go,
go, God bless you
She waved him from her, as if she
would Danish him while she had the
power to do so; and he-how was it
with himl He arose to leave her,
then came back, held her to his heart
in long embrace, with half smoth-
cred fare well, left her.
The next morning dawned in cloud
less splendor. At an early hour the
cathedral was thrown open and the
sexton began to prepare for the we'd
ding. Flame-co1ored flowers nodded
by the wayside-hame-colored leaves
came dashing down the trees and lay
in heaps upon the ground; and the
ripe wheat waved liked 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 party appeared,
escorting the princess Elizabeth to the
cathedral where the marriage was to
be solemnized;
It was brightpageant-tar bright,
er than the entwined foliage and
blossoms were the tufts of plumes
which foated from stately heads and
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 vel
vet, looked pale and sad and when,
on nearing the church, she heard a
gush of organ music. which, though
iTubilantiu sound, s.-uck on her ear
like funeral knell-she trembled
and would have fallen to the earth,
had moi a page supported her. A
few minutes afterwards she entered
the cathedral. There with retinue
stood the royal bridegroom, whom
she had never before seen. But her
glance roved from him to the organ
loft, where she had expected that
mysterious organist. He was gone,
and she was obliged to return the
graceful bow Of the King, to whom
she had been betrothed from motives
Of policy. Mechanically sshe kneit
at his side on the altar stone; me-
chanically listened to the service and
made the response.
Then her husband drew her to him
in convulsive embrace, and wis
pered:
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 a glow
on her cheeks
ALL though the King wore the
royal purple and many jeweled or
der glittered on his breast, he seemed
the humble person who had been en-
ployed to teach organ music, and had
taught her the lore of love.
Elizabeth murmured the mon
arch, "Bertram Hoffman, the myste-
rious organist, and King Oscar (the
Royal Free Masoh) are one. Forgive
my stratagem. I 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 re-
turned her husbands fond kisses, and
for once two hearts were made happy
by royal marriage.