Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-12-08
THE MYSTERIOUS ORGANIST.

hll his place, when one bright Sabbath
morning as the sexton entered the church
he saw stranger seated at the Grape
shrouded organ. He was tall, graceful
man, with pale but strikIngly handsome
countenance, great black, melancholy 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 aston
ished listeners declared that the organ
seemed to have grown human-that it
walled, sighed and clamored, as if tor
tured human heart was throbbing through
it. When the music at length ceased,
the sexton hastened to the stranger and
said:
Pray, who are you, SIR"
" Do not ask my name" he replied. a
have heard that you are in want of an
organist, and have come here on trial"
You'll be sure to get the place." ex-
claimed the sexton. "Why you surpass
him that's dead and gone, sir"
"No, no, you overrate me-" resumed the
stranger, with sad smile; and then, as if
disinclined to conversation, he returned
from old Hans and began to play again.
And now the music changed from a sor-
rowful strain to grand old pean, and the
mysterious organist
Looking upward full of grace
Played. till from happy place
Gods glory struck him in the face"
and his countepance 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 the distant sky, glimpse of
which he caught through an upper win
dow, when there was a stir around the
church door and royal party came sweep
ing in. Among them might be seen a
young girl with wealth of golden hair,
eyes of violet hue, and lips like cherries.
This was Princess Elizabeth, and all eyes
turned toward her as she seated herself in
the velvet-cushioned pew appropriated to
the Court. The mysterious organist fixed
his eyes on her and went on playing No
sooner had the music reached her ears
than she started as if ghost had crossed
her path. The bloom faded from her
cheeks, her lips quivered, and her whole
frame grew tremulous. At last her eyes
met those of the organist in 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 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 painful dream she
saw the pale man at the organ, and heard
the melody which filled the vast edifce.
Ay, full well 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
commenced his task. While he played, a
veiled figure glided in, and knelt at a side
shrine. There she remained till the wor-
shippers 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 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 musician.
"Bertram," she murmured.
Quick as thought the organist raised
his head. There, with the light of 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 soft ermine trimmings, the
tiara, the necklace, the bracelets, had all
been exchanged for a simple gray serge
robe and a long thick veil, which was now
pushed back from her girlish face
"Ohi Elizabeth, Elizabethp' exclaimed
the organist, and he sank at her feet and
gazed into her troubled eyes
"Why are you here, Bertram?" asked
the Princess.
81 came to bid you farewell, and as /
dared not venture into the palace, gained
access to the cathedral, and having taken
the seat of the dead organist, let my music
breathe out the adieu | could not trust my
lips to utter"
A low moan was the only answer, and
he continued:
"You are married on the morrow"
"Yes," sobbed the girl. 'Oh, Bertram,
what a trial it will be to stand at yonder
altar, and take upon me the VOWS that will
doom me to a living death"
Think of me-" rejoined the organist,
<'Your royal father requests me to play at
your wedding, and l have promised to be
here. If were your equal / could be the
bridegroom instead of organist, but poor
musician must give you up"
at is rending body and soul asunder to
part with you" said the girl. Tonight ]
may tell you this-tell you how much
loved you, but in few hours it will be a
sin. Go, go, and God bless you"
She waved him from her as if she would
Danish him while she had the power to dc
so, and he-how was it with him? He
rose to leave her, then came back, held heI
to his heart in long embrace, and with q
half smothered farewell left her.
The next morning dawned in cloudles:
splendor, and at an earlier hour, the cathe
dral was thrown open, and the sexton be
gan to prepare for the brilliant wedding
Flame-colored flowers nodded by the way
side, from the trees, and lay in light heap
upon the ground, and the ripe wheat wavet
Like golden sea, and berries dropped il