West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-04-17

Halleluiah for ino' I obeyed. and the
grandeur OF the melody reverberated
shi-ugh the church; when / had fin
ished. turned TO my wife and found
she Was leaning back. j. seemed to me
unconscious. l hastene1 TO her aud
tOunt that she had tainted. She re-
yiycd IN moment, and said: do not
take me away, il was here We met, lot
me 20 irJin you here.
''Ah, the agony OF that moment, for
realized that what she said was true,
and that the parting was indeed at
hand. took her in NV arms. Vainly
fancying that the embrace in which she
had sc often rested would avail to keep
her with me now. She Law quietly for
some moments, and then said i'm tones
so low that bent my car to her lips to
catch them: Dear Ernest, we have
been 80 happy and it is only for little
while that we shall be parted. Dear
heart, will you play the Halleluiah for
me every Easter even until YOU come to
mc9 | shall listen for t. With my
lips pressed to hcl's. I promised her:
when / raised them knew that Thekla
had received my last kiss"
The old Organist's voice broke and
his eyes Il tered with tears. Paul
pre- sed his hand and said softly: And
tina, is why. dear friend, YOU have
always played the Halleluiah on Easter
even. / understand, now; and all these
years YOU have waited 10 90 to her?"
Yes, sad the old man, lit was n
long time before | cared for life after
she left me. Ii was so hard To think
that she who had for 50 lo1g been the
object ol my tendercst sol citudc was be-
You'd any carc-taking of mine. I was sure
she nee led M, an | could not 90 to
her All. that thought was so bitter
My faith assured me of her happinc IS
in Heaven, bit my self refused to be
comiortcd My only solace was my
organ, and II was then learned OF tho
Il vine comfort of music, the glorious
harmony which God has given to His
children. None but those who have
sorrowed WI understand it, for only
unto them has it been revealed At
last l came to this county and ID this
town, and became the organist OF the
church from which We came tonight
Every Easter even since she le I me |
have played the Halleluiah, and Thckla
has listened. Here have lived alone
and waited waited to 90 to Thckla.
but ah! did not think the dear God
would keep me from her so long
The old organists voice grew faint,
and Paul SAID:
d" Dear friend, you are not we'll let
me st y with YOU tonight"
No, Paul, dear boy, it is nothing
Go home and do not be sorrowful be.
cause Of what ! have told YOU TO m ght
love you. my dear pupil, and | am
glad / opcled my heart TO you. Good
night, sleep VOL, and hope that the
Easter morning may b. bright and
beautiful"
With warm hand-clasp the two
friends parted, Paul filed with many
mi 'giving3 and half inclined to insist
upon remaining with the old man.
Inc next morning when he reached the
church the organist was not there, and
fearing, he knew not what, Paul hast
cncd 10 his home. The old man lived
alone, and Iaul find that the outer
door yielded TO his touch, entered and
opened the room in which the previous
evening had been spent. His heart
sank within him rs he saw, i'm the midst
OF the sunlight which streamed through
the window, the lamp still burning as
when he departed, while on the lounge
before the ashes of the burned out fire
lay the form of the old organist just as
he had left him. Hastily touching the
cold hand and quiet heart, Paul found
his worst fears confirmed
While the robins were singing their
Easter anthem; in the early quiet OF
that resurrection morning, the old man
had gone to Thekla, and with her he
joined in the "sevcn-folC chorus of
hallelulahs and harping symphonies.
-.dibdHy IN ~ ArgUS