Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-12-18
THE MYSTERIOUS ORGANISE.

the church, he saw stranger sitting al
the crape-shrouded organ.
He was tall, graceful man, with q
pale but strikingly handsome face, great,
black melancholy eyes, and hair like the
raven s wing for g oss and color, sweeping
in dark waves over his shoulders. He did
not seem to notice the sexton, but went on
| playing; and such music as he drew from
the instrument no words of mine can de-
scribe.
The astonished listener declared that
the organ seemed to have grown human
that it walled and sighed and clamored as
| if tortured humun heart was tnrobbing
through the pipes. When the music at
| length ceased, the sexton fastened to the
stranger and said:
Pray, who are you, sir?'
do not ask my name" he replied Il
| heard that you were in want of an organ
list, and have come here On trial.
You'll be sure to get the place. said
the sexton. why you surpass him that 5
dead and gone, sir
No, no; you overrate,' resumed the
stranger, with sad smile; and then, as if
disinclined to conversation, he turned from
old Hans and began to play again. And
now the music changed from a sorrowful
strain to grand old pecan, and the mys-
| ferrous organist-
| 'Looking upward, full of grace,
| Played, till from happy place
Gods glory smote him in the face
and his countenance seemed not unlike
thai of Saint Michael as portrayed by
| Guido.
Lost in the harmonies which sweled
around him, he sat with his far seeing
eaze on the distant sky, glimpse of
which he caught through an open window,
when there was a stir about the church
door, and a royal party came swarming
in. Among them might be seen a young
girl with wealth of golden hair, eyes of
violet hue, and lips like wild cherries
This was the Princess Elizabeth; and all
eyes turned to her as she seated herself in
the velvet cushioned pew appropriated to
the court. The mysterious organ1st fixed
his gaze upon her, and went on playing.
| The bloom faded from her cheek, her lip
| quivered; her whole frame grew tremul-
Gus.
At last her eyes met those of the organ
ist in 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, Harh ye; he shall play at your we'd
ding"
The pale lips of the princes parted, but
she could not speak; she was dumb with
grief Like one In a painful dream she
saw the pale man at the organ, and heard
the melody which filled the vast edifce.
| Av, full we'll she knew who he was why
| the instrument seemed breathing out the
agony Of a tortured soul
When the service was over, and the
royal party had left the cathedral, he stole
away as mysterious y as he had come. He
was not seen again till the vesper hour
and then he appeared in the organ loft
and commenced his task While he
played. yelled figure glided in and knelt
near side shrine. There she remained
till the worshippers dispersed, when the
sexton touched her on the shoulder, and
| said:-
Madam, everybody has gone out but
you and | wish to close The doors.
81 am not ready to go yet, was the re-
ply. Leave me! leave mel
The sexton drew back into shady niche
and watched and listened. The myster-
ious organist still kept his post but his
head was bowed upon the instrument and
he could not see the lone devotee. At
length she rose from the aisle, and, NOV
ing to the organ loft, she paused beside
the musician.
"Bertramr' she murmured
Quick as thought the organist raised his
head. There, with the light of lamp sus-
pended to The arch above falling upon her,
stood the princess who had graced the
ro>aI pew that day.
The court dress of velvet, with its soft
ermine trimmings, the tiara, the necklace.
the bracelets, had been exchanged for a
grey serge robe and long thick veil,
which was not pushed back from the faic,
girlish face,
''Oh, Elizabeth! Elizabeth!' exclaimed
the organist; and he sank at her feet and
gazed wistfully into her eyes.
why are you here, BERTRAND" asked
| the princess.
Il came to bid you FAREWELL and as
dared not venture into the palace, | gain
ed access to the cathedral by bribing the
bell ringer, and taking the vacant seat of
the dead organ1st. Let my music breathe
out the adieu that could not trust my lips
| to utter.
A low moan was the only answer, and
he continued.
"You are to be married tomorrow -
Yes" sobbed the girl, 30 Bertram-
what trial it will he to stand at yondel
alter and take upon me the vow which will
doom me to living death!'
Think of me, rejoined the organist.
Your royal father has requested me to
play at your wedding, and have promis-
ed to be here. If | were your equal,
could be the bridegroom instead of the
organist; but poor musician must give
you up
1T is like rending body and soul asun-
der to part with you!" said the girl. TO
night | may tell you this-telI you how
fondlv love you-but in a few hours ii
will be a sin. Co. go!-and God bless
you!"
The next morning dawned in cloudiess
splendor. At an early hour the catbedra!
was thrown open, and the sexton began to
prepare for the brilliant wedding. Flame
colored leaves came rushing down from the
trees and lay in light heaps upon the
ground; and the ripe wheat waved like a
golden sea, and berries dropped in red and
purple clusters over the rock along the
| Rhine.
At length the palace gates were opened,
and the royal party appeared, escor ting
the Princess Elizabeth to the cathedral,
where her marriage was to be solemnized
1t was a brave pageant-far brighter than
| the entwined foliage and blossoms were