Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-09-17
A Legend of the Rhine.
" Kind hearts are more than coronets,
Aud simple faith than Norman blood,

A Legend of the Rhine.
kind hearts are more than coronets,
Aud simple faith than Norman blood.
Years ago, at a grand old cathedral
overlooking the Rhine. there appeared
. my sterious organist. The great COM
poser who had played the organ SO long
had suddenly died, and every body, from
the king to the peasant, was wondering
who could be found to fill his place,
when, one bright Sabbath morn, as the
sexton entered the church. be saw a
stranger sitting at the crape-shrouded
organ. He was tall, graceful man,
with O pale but strikiDgly handsome
face, great black melancholy eyes, and
hair like a ravens wing for gloss ard
color sweeping in dark waves oveF his
shoulders. He did not seem to notice
the sexton, but went on playing, and
such music as he drew from the instru-
ment no words Of mine can describe.
The astonished listener declared that
the organ seemed to have grown human
that it walled and shed. and clam
ored, as if through its pipes. When
the music at length ceased, the sexton
hastened to the stranger. and said:
Pray who are you, sirP"
Do not ask my name, he replied.
:" have heard that you are in want of
an organist, and have come here on
trial."
you'll be sure to get the place"
exclaimed the sex'ou. Why, you sur
pass him that's dead aEd gone, SIR"
|" No, no; you overra:e me-" resumed
the stranger, with a sad smile; and
then. as If disiuclined to conversation,
he TUNED from old Hans and began to
play again. Aud now the music
changed from a sorrowful strain to q
grand old pmsn, and the mysterious or
gnnist--
"Looking upward full Gf grace
P,sysd. till from happy pace
Gods glory smote him on the face
and his countenance seemed not unlike
that Of st. Michael. as portrayed by
Guido.
Lost in the harmonies which swelled
around him, he ga. with his Z" far-seeins"
gaze fixed on the distant sky, q glimpse
u ~ 'esaUgn ta1SEah an open
window, when there was stir about
the church door, aud . royal party
came sweeping in. Among them might
be seen . young girl, with eyes like the
violet hue. and lips like wild cherries.
This was the Princess Elizabeth, and
all eyes turned to her as she seated her
self in the aforementioned pew appro-
priated to the court. No sooner had
the music reached her ears than she
started as If a ghost had crossed her
path. The bloom faded from her
cheek, her lips qnivered, and her whole
frame grew tremulous. At last her
81 o. met those of the organist, in long
yesrning look, and then the melody lost
its joyous notes, and once more walled,
and sighed and clamored.
"By my faith" whispered the king
to his daughter. this orgauist has q
master hand. Hark ye. he shall play a!
your weddingl"
The pale lips of the princess parted.
but she could not speak-she was dumb
with grief. Like one in q painful
dream, she saw the pale man at the or.
gan, and heard the melody which filed
the vast edifice. Aye, full well she
tpew, who he was and why the instru.
ment seemed breathing out the agony
Of tortured heart.
When the service was over, and the
royal party had left the cathedral, be
stole away as mygteriously as he had
come. He was not seen again by the
sexton till the vesper hour, and then he
appeared in the organ loft, and com.
menced his task. While he played, q
veiled figure glided in and knelt near Q
side shrine. There she knelt till the
worshipels dispersed, when the sexton
touched her on the shoulder and said
Madam. every body has gone bul
you and me, and I wish to close the
door,"
~ am not ready to go yet" was tn,
reply; leave me-leave mel"
The sexton drew back into q shad,
niche, and watched and listened. Tn.
mysterious organist still kept his post
but his head was bowed upon the in
strument, and he could not see the lon,
devotee. At length she rose from tn,
aiAle, and moving to the organ loft
paused beside the musician.
Bertrand" she murmured.
Quick as thought the organist raised
his head. There, with the light of ,
lamp suspended to the arch above, fall
ing full upon her, stood the princes
who had graced the royal pew that day
The court dress of velvet, with its sof
ermine trimmings. the tiara. the neck
lace, the bracelets. had been exchanged
for gray serge robe and long thicl
veil. which was now pushed back from
the fair girlish face.
"Oh. Elizabeth, Elizabeth" ejacu
lated the organist. aud he sank at he
feet, aud gazed wistfully into her troub
led eyes.
why are you here, Bertram
asked the princess.
- came TO bid you farewell; and a.
] dared not venture into the palace.