Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-01-18

RdiIleu dcCess 10 Tie CdlucOldl. anu
having taken the vacant seat of the
dead organist, let my music breathe
out the adieu l 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, Bert
ram, what trial it will be TO stand at
yonder altar and take upon me the
vows that will doom me TO living
death"
Think of me-" rejoined the organ
ist. Your royal father requests me
to play at your wedding, and have
promised TO be here. If | were your
equal | would be the bridegroom in
stead Of organist; but poor mrsi-
clan must give you up.
1T is rending body and soul asun-
der to part with you" said the girl.
Tonight may tell you this-tell you
how much / love you, but in few
hours it will be sin. Go, go, and
God bless you"
She waved him from her as if she
would Danish him while she had the
power TO do so, and he-how was it
with him. He rose to leave her, then
came back, held her to his heart in
long embrace, and with a half smoth-
cred farewell left her.
The next day dawned in cloudless
splendor. and at an earlier hour the
Cathedral was thrown open, and the
sexton began to prepare for the bril-
liant wedding. Flame colored flow
ers nodded by the wayside, from the
trees, and lay in light heaps upon the
ground. and the ripe wheat waved
like q golden sea. and berries dropped
in red and purple clusters over rocks
along the Rhine.
At length the palace gates were
opened, and the royal party appeared
escorting the Princess Elizabeth to
the Cathedral where the marriage was
to be solemnized. 1t was brave pa
geant; far brighter than the entwined
blossoms and foliage were the tufts OF
plumes which floated from stately
heads. and festal robes that streamed
over the housings of superb steeds.
But the Princess mounted on snow
white palfrey and clad in snow-white
velvet, looked pale and sad; and when
on nearing the church, she heard a
gush of organ music, which, though
iubilant in sound. struck on her ear
like a funeral knell, she trembled and
would have fallen to the ground had
not page supported her. Afew more
moments afterwards she entered the
Cathedral. There, with his retinue,
stood the royal bridegroom, whom she
had never before seen. But her eyes
rove from from him TO the organ loft
where she expected to see the mystic
rious organist. He was gone, and she
was obliged to return the graceful
bow of the king to whom she was be-
trothed from motives of policy. Me-
chanically she knelt at the altar-me-
chanically listened to the services and
made the responses Then her hus-
band drew her to him in a convulsive
embrace and whispered
"Elizabethl my queen. look upv'
Trembling in every limb, she obey
ed. Why did those dark eyes thrill
her soP Why did that smile bring Il
glow to her cheek? All, though the
king wore the royal purple, and many
a jeweled order glittered on his breast
he seemed the same humble person
who had been employed to teach her
organ music, and had taught her the
lore of love.
Elizabeth" murmured the mon
arch. "Bertram Hoffman the organ
ist and King Oscar are one. Forgive
my stratagem. | wished TO marry
you, but | would not drag you to the
altar an unwilling bride. Your father
was in the secret"
While tears of JOY rained from her
eyes, the new made queen returned
her husbands fond kiss, and for once
two hearts were made happy by a
royal marriage.