The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-02-12
Selrtt StOrp.
THE MYSTERIOUS oRGANIsT

Years ago, at = grand Old cathedral
overlooking the Rhine, there appeared 3
mysterious organist The great eomposeG
wbO had played the organ 50 long had
Suddenly died, and everybody, from the
king TO the psasani. vas wondering who
could Be found 10 GIL bis place, when, one
/ bright Sabbath morn, as che sexton en-
tered the church, he saw stranger sitting
at the crspe-shroudcd organ. He vas a
tai, graceful uau, with pals bat striking
/ iy handsome face, grea, black Helaseholy
ewes. snd hair ike the ravens wing foT
gloss aud color, sweeping ia dark waves
over his shoulders lie did nos seem to
sosise the sexton, bat went on playioz,
aud such music IS be did draw from the
l ius,rumeu, DO words Of mine can describe.
/ The astonished listener declared that ;hs
organ seemed 70 have grown haman--,has
/ il walled aud sighed. and slaHored, as il
through is pipes. Whea the music At
| leugsh ceased, the sexton FASTENED 70 the
stranger, aud said
"Pay, vho are you
DO not ask ny name, be replied. Il
/ have heared that yOa are in want Of so
orsauiss, aud have come hers on trial.
1Youll be sure 10 get the place, ex-
claimed ,hs sexton. "wSy yOa surPass
thin that's dead aud gone, sir.
No, no, yoa overrate me, said the
i stranger, with q sad smile aud then, as
I IL disiacIiued to conversation, he turned
from cd Hans and began to play agaio.
And nov the music changed from sorrow-
fol strain to grand old pean, aad the
mysterious OTgnBist---
Looking upward full Of grace
Prayed tai from happy place
Gods glory smOse him on the face
/ and bis eouo,ensnce seemed DOT unlike
that OF St, Michael, as portrayed ia Guido.
Lost 10 the harmonies which sWelled
around him, he sat With his star seeing
| gaze fixed on the distant sky, glimpse of
which he caught through the open win
dow, when there was a stir abou, the
church door, aud royal party came
sweeping in. Among them might be seen
young girl, with eyes ike the violet hue,
and lips like wild cherries. This was the
/ Princess Elizabeth, aud all eyes turaed TO
her as she seated herself in the velvet
cushioned pew appropriated to the court.
4 No sooner had the music reached her ears
than she started as If ghos, had crossed
her path. The bloom faded from her
checks, her lips quivered, aud her whole
| frame grew tremulous. At last her eyes
met those of the organist, 10 a long, yearn-
ing look, and then the melody lost its joy
Gus notes, and once more walled, and
sighed, and clamored.
"By my faith, whispered the king to
his daughter, ''this organist has a master
hand. Hark ye, be 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, she
saw the pale man at the organ, aud heard
the melody which filed the vast edifce
Aye, full well she knew who he was, and
why the instrument seemed to be breath
ing out the agony of tortured heart.
When the service was 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 yes
per hour, and then he appeared in the or
gan loft, and commenced his task. While
he played, veiled figure glided in, knelt
till the worshippers dispersed, when the
sexton touched her on the shoulder and
said
Madam, everybody has gone but you
and me, and l wish to close the door"
II am not ready to go yet, y was the re-
ply; ''leave me-leave me r
The sexton drew back into a shady
niche, and watched and listened. The
mysterious organist still kept his post, but
his head was bowed upon his instrument,
and he could not see the lone devotee.