Morris tribune., 1880-11-18

Vowlng to my manhood's honor,
You were mortal, yet were pure.
THE MYSTERIOUS ORGANISE.
Years ago, at grand old cathedral
overlooking the Rhine, there appeared a
mysterious organist. The great compos-
er 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, as the sexton en-
tered the church, he saw a stranger SIT
ting at the Grape shrouded organ. He
was tall, graceful man, with pale but
strikingly handsome face, great, black,
melancholy eyes, and hair like raven"
wing for gloss and color sweeping over
ghls shoulders. He did not seem to no.
tice the sexton, but went on playing, and
such music as he drew from the organ no
words of mine can describe. The aston
ished listener declared that the organ
seemed to have grown human-that it
walled and sighed and clamored as if
through its pipes. When the music at
length ceased, the sexton fastened to the
stranger and said:
'Pray, who are you, sirG"
"Do not ask my name" he replied, II
have heard that you are in want of an Or
ganist, and have come here on trial"
"You II be sure to get the place, sir"
exclaimed the sexton. "Why, you sur
pass him that's dead and gone!"
No, no: you overrate me- resumed
@haVo
as If disinclined to conversation, he
turned from old Hans and began to play
again. And now the music changed
from a sor-owful strain to a grand old
pecan, and the mysterious organist-
Looking upward full of grace
Prayed till from happy place
& 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 sat with his "far-seeing"
eyes fixed on the distant sky, a glimpse
of which he caught through an open
window, when there was stir about the
church door, and royal party came
sweeping in. Among them might be seen
a young girl, with eyes like the violet
hue, and lips like wild cherries. This was
the Princess Elizbeth, and all eyes turned
to he1 as she seated herself il the velvet
] cushioned pew appropriated to 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 face,
her lips euivered, and her whole frame
grew tremulous. At last her eyes met
those of the organist in a 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. Hark ye, he shall play at your
wedding!"
The pale lips of the princess parted,
but she could not speak-she was dumb
with grief. Like one in painful dream m,
she saw the pale man at the organ, and
heard the melody which filled the vast
ediice. Aye, full we'll she knew who be
was and why the instrument seemed
breathing out the agony of tortured
heart.
When the service was over, and the
royal party had left the cathedral, ht
stole away as mysterIously as he hac
come. He was not seen again by thu
sexton till the vesper hour, and then he
appeared in the organ-l loft and commenceC
his task. While he played yelled fig
ure giided IN and knelt near side shrine
There she knelt till the worshippers dis
persed. when tn i, sexton touched her or
the shoulder, and said: +f --hf 5
MADAM, everybody has gone but yor
= and me, and l wish to close the door,"
81 am not ready to go yet" was tn
reply; "leave me-leave mew
The sexton drew back into shad,
niche, and watched and listened. Thu
mysterious organist still kept his post
6 hut h1s head was bowed upon the instru
ment, and he could not see the lone de
votee. At length she rose from he aisle
and moving 10 the organ-loft, paused be
side the musician.
"Bertram ~ she murmured.
Quick as thought the organist raiset
his Eead There, with the light of
lamp suspended to the arch above tallin;
- full upon her, stood the princess VIII
2 had graced the royal pew that day. 4 Tn
court dress of velvet, with its soft Ell
mine trimmings. the tiara, the necklace
the bracelets had been exchanged for
gray serge robe and long thick vel
which was now pushed back from tn
fair, girish face. nv
z "Oh, Elizabeth Elizabethlp eiacu
lated the organist, and he sank at be
feet, and gazed wistfully into her trou
q .bled eyes. r T-rTl rYT
"Why are you here. Bertramg" aske
the princess.
II came to bid yeu farewell; and as
dared not venture into the palace,
gained access to the cathedral by bribin
the bell ringer, and having taken th
seat OF the dead organist, let nay must
breathe out the adieu could not trut
my lips to utter"
A low moan was the only answer, an
he continued:
4 @You are to be married on the mo
. foW?aE Hs& az B8S ke
"Yes," sobbed the girl. sob, Bertran
what a trial it will be to stand {
EIJOhder altar and take upon me ii
vows which win doom me to Twin
70 death = gse
ssThink Of me-" reioined the organis
eYour royal father has requested me
play at the wedding, and i have prem
ised to e.here. If Iwere your equal,
could be the bridegroom instead of Il
a iurganist; but poor musician must gi,
you up
TIT is ike rending soul and Doc
asunder, to part with you, = said the gi
~ Tonight may tell you this-tell 20
how fondIy 4 love you, but in fe