The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1888-12-21
The Mysterious Organist.
A Legend Of the Rhine.
"Kind hearts are more than coronets,
And simple fifth thnn Norman blood.n

overlooking the Rhine, there ap-
peared a mysterious organist. The
great composer who played the or
gan so long, suddenly died, and
everybody from the Kingto the peas
ant, was wondering who could be
found to fill his place, when, n
bright Sabbath morning, as the sex
ton entered the church, he saw q
stranger seated at the crape-shrouded
organ. He was atall, graceful man,
with a pale but strikingly handsome
countenance, great, black, melan-
choly eyes, and hair like a ravens
wing in gloss and color. He had not
seemed to notice the sexton, but
went on playing, and such music as
he drew from the instrument no
words of mine can describe. The as
tonished listeners declared that the
organ seemed to have grown human
that it walled, and sighed and clam
ored, as ifa tortured human heart
was throbbing through it. When the
music at length ceased the sexton
FASTENED to the stranger and said:
"Pray, who are you, sir?"
"Do not ask my nanae," he replied.
81 have heard that you are in
want of an organist, and have come
here on trial."
you'll be sui to get the place."
exclaimed the sexton. "Why you
surpass him that's dead and gone,
sir"
"No, no, you overrate me-" re-
sumed the stranger, with a sad smile;
and then, as if disinclined to onver-
sation, he turned from old Hans, and
began to play again. And now the
music changed from u sOrrowful
strain to Il grand old pean, and the
mysterious organist.
Looking upward full of grace,
Played, till from q happy place
Gods glory struck him in the face"
Cbilu LIE CoulllCllulltO SCCillCl hoO ILL
like that of ST. Michael, as portrayed
by Guido.
Lost in the harmonies which swell
ed around him, he sat with his far
seeing gaze fixed on the distant sky,
aglimpse of which he caught through
an upper window, when there was a
stir around the church door, and a
royal party came sweeping. in.
Among them might be seen a
young girl, with a wreath of
golden hair, eyes of violet hue,
and lips like cherries. This
was princess Elizabeth and all eyes
turned toward her as she seated her.
self in the velvet cushioned pew ap-
propriated to the court. The mys-
teries organist fixed his eyes on her
and went on playing. No sooner
had the music reached her ears, than
she started as if a ghost had crossed
her path. The bloom faded from her
cheeks, her lips %quivered, and her
whole frame grew tremulous. Atlast
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 a
master hand. Hank We, my child, 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 a pain
full dream she saw the pale man at
the organ, and heard the melody
which filled the vast edifice. Ay, full
we'll she knew who he was, and why
the instrument seemed breathing out
the agony of a tortured heart.
When the service was over, and the
royal party had left the cathedral,
he stole away as mysteriously as he
came: He was not seen again by the
sexton till the vesper hour, and then
he appeared in the loft and COM
menced his task. While he played, a
yelled figure glided in and knelt, at
a side shrine. There she remained
till the worshippers disappeared,
when the sexton touched her On the
shoulder and said:
MADAM, everybody has gone but
you and me, and | wish to close the
DOORS"
The sexton drew into a shady
niche, and watched and listened.
The mysterious organist still kept
his post, but he could not see the
lone devotee. At length she rose
from the aisle, and moving to the
organ loft, paused beside the must
clan.
"Bertram," she murmured.
Quick as thought the organist
raised his head. There with the light
of a lamp suspended to the arch
above falling upon her, stood the
princess who had graced the royal
pew that day. The court dress of
velvet, with its softermine trimmings
the tiara, the necklace, the bracelets,
had all been exchanged for a simple
grey serge robe and a long thick veil,
which was now, pushed back from her
|girlish face. 8H 81
"Ohl Elizabeth, Elizabeth" ex-
claimed the organist, and he sank at
her feet and gazed wistfully into her
troubled eyes.
why are you here, Bertrand"
asked the princess.
Icame to bid you farewell, and as
| dared not venture into the palace,
[ gained access to the cathedral, and
having taken the vacant seat of the