The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1871-05-27
The Mysterious Organist.

At a grand cathedral overlooking the
Rhine there appeared distinguished or
ganist.. The great composer who had played
the organ so long had suddenly died, and
everybody, from the King to the peasant
was wondering who could be found to I'LL
his place, when one bright Sabbath morning
as the sexton entered the church, he saw a
stranger sitting at the crape-shrouded Or
gan. LIe was n tail, graceful man, with a
pale bat strikingly handsome face, great
black, melancholy eyes, and hair like the
ravens wing for gloss and cOlor-sweeping
in dark waves over his shoulders. lie did
not seem to notice the sexton, bat went on
! playing, and such music as ne drew from
the instrument no words of mine can de-
scribe. The astonished listeRcr declared
that the organ seemed to have grown human
that it walled and sighed and clamored as
if its tortured human heart was throbbing
through its pipes.
When the music at length ceased, the
sexton hurried to the stranger and asked
pray, who are you ?"
'Do not ask my name" he replied "I
have heard that you are IN want of an or
ganist, and have come here on trial"
You'll be certain to get the place ez.
claimed the sexton. "Why, you surpass
him that's dead and gone"
"No, no, you overrate me, said the
stranger, with q smile; then, as if he de-
clined further conversation, he turned from
Old Hans and began to play again, and now
the music changed from sorrowful stream
to grand old pean, and the mysterious or
ganist,
"Loozing upward, full of grace,
Playing still from happy place
! God s glory smote him on the face
and his countenance seemed not unlike that
of St. Miehael as portrayed by Guido
Lost in the melodies which sweIled around
him, he sat with his "flr-seeing" eye fixed
on the distant sky, q glimpse of which be
caught through an open window, when
there was stir about the church door and
a royal party came sweeping in. Among
them might be seen a bright young irl,with
a wealth Of golden hair, eyes like the vio-
let's hue, and lips like wild cherries. This
was the Princess Elizabeth, and all eyes
were turued toward her as she seated her
self in the velvet-cushioned pew apprOpria-
ted to the court. The mysterious organist
! fixed his eyes upon her and commenced
playing. No sooner had the music reached
/ her cars than she started as if ghost had
crossed her path The blood faded from
her crimson check, her lips quivered and
her whole frame grew tremulous.. At last
her eyes caught those of the organiSt in a
long and earnest look and the melody lost
its joyous notes. and once more walled and
sighed.
"By faith" whispered the King to his
daughter, this organist plays a master
hand. Hark ye, he shall play at thy we'd
ding -.s... ..-.s.
| The pale lips OF the princess parted, but
she could not speak-she WIS dumb with
grief Like one in a painful dream she saw
melody which filled the vast edifce. Ay,
full well she knew Why the instrument
seemed breathing out the agony Of q tortured
heart.
| When the services were over and the royal
party had left the cathedral, he stole away
as mysteriously as he had come. He was
not seen again by the sexton till the vesper
hour, when he appeared IN the organ loft
and commenced his task. While he played
a yelled figure glided in and knelt near a
shrine There she remained until the wor.
shippers disappeared, when the sexton
touched her on the shoulder and said:
Madame, everybody has gone but you
and me, and | wish to close the door"
q am not ready to so YET" was the reply;
''leave me-leave Inc -
The sexton drew back into shady niche
and watched and listened. The mysterious
organist still kept his post, though his head
was bowed upon the instrument and he
could not see the lone devotee. At length
she arose from the aisle, and moving to the
organ loft, paused beside the orgauist.
"Betram !" she muTmured.
Quick as thought the organist raised his
head. There with the light of the lamp
suspended to the arch above falling full up
on her, stood the Princess who had graced
the royal pew that day. The court dress Of
velvet, with its erInine trimmings, the tiara
the necklace, the bracelets, had been ex-
changed fer gray serge robe and a long
thick veil, which was now pushed back from
the fair, girlish face
''Why are you here, Betram p asked the
Princess.
a came to bid you farewell and as
dared not venture into the palace l gained
access to the cathedral by bribing the bell
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