Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-09-09
THE MYSTERIOUS ORGANISE.
A LEGEND OF THE RHINE.


"kina hearts are more than eOr6nets,
Aud simple faith than Norman blood"
Years ago, at grand old cathedral
overlooking the Rhine, there appeared a
mysterious orRanist. 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 fill his place, when, one
bright Sabbath morn, rs the sexton entered
the church, he saw a stranger sitting at
the crape-shrouded organ. He was tall,
graceful man, with a pale but strikingii |
handsome face, with great black, melhn-
choly eyes, and hair like the ravens wing
for gloss and color, sweeping in dArk waveb |
over his shoulders. He aid not get to
notice the sexton, but went on PLAYING,
and such music as he drew from the ia
strument no words of mine can describe,
The astonished listener dec AIRED that the
organ seemed to have grown human--that
it walled and sighed, and clsmored, as II
through its pipes. When the music at
length ceased the sexton haqtoned TO the
stranger, andtsaid
PRAY who re you, SIT
''Do not ask my name" he replied, 81
have heard that you are in want OF Al
organist, and have come here on trlai.
''You'll be sure 10 get the place. tx
claimed the sexton. why, you suTpass
him that's dead and gone, sir.
mo no; you overrate me- resumed
the stranger, with sad smile; and then,
as if disinclire ed to conversation, he turned
from old Haus and began to play again.
Aud now the music changed from
sorrowful strain TO grand old I@4n, and
the mysterious organist-
"Lnokng upward fun of grace.
Prayed till from happy place
Gods glory snOte nm 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 sat with his ''far-seeing'
gaze fixed on tie distant sky, a glimpse of
which he caught through an open window,
when there was a stir about the church
door, and royal party came sweeping in.
Among them might be seen young girl,
eyes like the violet hue, and lips like wild
cherries. This was the Princess Eliza
beth, and all eyes turned TO her as she
seated herself in the velvet-cushioned pew
appropriated 10 the court. No sooner had
the music reached her ears than she
started as if ghost had crossed her path.
The bloom faded from her cheek, her lips
quivered, and her whole frame grew
tremulous. At last her eyes met those of
the organist, in long, yearning 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 organist has master
hand. Hank ye, he shall play at your
wedding r
The pale lips of the princess parted, but
she could not speak-she was dumb with
grief Like one in painful dream, she
saw the pale man at the organ and heard
the melody which filed the vast editice.
Aye, full well she knew who he was, and
why the instrument seemed breathing out
the agony of tortured heart.
When the services was over, and the
royal party had left the cathedral, he stole
away as mysterious as he had come. lie
was not seen again by the sexton till the
vesper hour, and then he appeared in the
organ loft, and commenced his task.
While be played a yelled figure glided in.
and knelt near side shrine. There she
knelt till the worshipers dispersed, when
the sexton touched her on the shoulders
and said
Madam, everybody has gone but you
and me, and l wish to close the door"
81 am not ready to 90 yet was the
reply leave me, leave me -
The sexton drew back into shady
niche, and watched and listened. The
mysterious organist still kept his post, but
his bead was bowed upon the instrument,
and he could not see the lone devotee.
At lenRhth she rose from the aisle, and
moving to the organ loft, paused beside the
musician.
'Bertram ' size murmured.
Quick as thought the organist raised his
head There, with the light of lamp
suspended to the arch above, falling full
upon her, stood the princess who had
Rraced the royal pew that day The court
dress of velvet, with its soft ermine
trimmings, the tiara, the necklace, the
bracelets had been exchanged for grey
serge robe and long thick veil which was
now pushed back from the fair girlish
face
"Oh, Elizabeth, Elizabeth ~ circulated
the organist, and lie sank at her feet, and
gazed wisttully into her troubled eyes.
why are you here, Bertram r asked
the princess.
II came to bid you farewell mud as
dared not venture into the place, gained
access to the cathedral by bribiug the bell.
ringer, and having taken the seat of the
dead organist, let my music breathe ont
the adieu | could not trust my lips tC
utter.
low moan was the only answer, aut
he continued:
You are to be married or the NOR
row 2"
Eyes, sobbed the girl 'Oh, Bertram
what trial it will be TO stand at yonde
altar and take upon me the vows whlcl
will doom me to a living DEATH"
Think of me, reloiued the organist
your royal father has requested me l,
play at the wedding and nave promise,
to be here. If were your equal, | coul
be the bridegroom instead of the organist
but poor musician must give you up"
ut is like rending soul and bod
asunder to part with you, said the g,ri
Tonight may tell you this-tell 80
how fondly love you, but in few hour
1t will be sin. Go, 90, and God bles
you 20
She waved him from her, as If sh
would Danish him while she had power t
do so and he, how was it with him Il
rose to leave her, then came back, bel
her to his heart in one long embrace an
with halfsmothered farewell, left her.
The next morning dawned 10 cloudles
splendor, and at an early hour Ii
cathedral was thrown open. and the sexto
began to prepare for the brilliant weddint
Flame eolored flowers waved by the WAY
side hame-colored leaves came rushin
down from the trees, and lay in ligI
heaps upon the ground and the riT
wheat waved like golden sen, and berri,
dropped in red end purple clusters owe
the rocks along the Rhine.
At length the palace gates were opene
and the royal party appeared, escortip
the Princess Elizabeth to the cathedra
where the marriage was to be solemnzet
Ii was brave pageant; far brighter tbs
the entwiued foliage and blossoms wei
tho tufts Of pumes which Hoated fro
stately heads, and the festal robes tn
streaned down over the housings Of II
superb steeds. But the princess. molntt
on a snow white pslfrev, and clad in sno
white velvet, looked pale and sad Al
when, on nearing the church, she heard
gush OF organ music, which, tLoul
juoilant IN sound, struck on her ear like
funeral knell, she trembled, and won
hnve fallen to tie earth had not pa
supported her, A few moments afterwa
she entered the cathedral There. wi
his retinue stood the bridegroom, who
She had never before seen. But b
glance royed from him to the organ To-
where She bad expected to see the my
FERROUS organist. lie was gone, and 5
was obliged to return the graceful bow
the king, TO whom she had been betroth
from motives of policy Mecnanica
she knelt ut his side on the altarstor