Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 March 1882 — THE MYSTERIOUS ORGANIST. [ARTICLE]

THE MYSTERIOUS ORGANIST.

Years ago at a grand old cathedral overlooking the Rhine, there appeared a mysterious organist. The great composer who had played the organ so long had suddenly died, and every person from the peasant to the king was wondering who could be found to fill his place. One bright Sabbath morn, as the sexton entered the church, he saw a stranger sitting at the crape shrouded organ. He was a tall, graceful man, with a pale but strikingly handsome face, great black, melancholy eyes, and hair like a raven for gloss and color, sweeping in dark waves over his shoulders. He did not seem to notice the sexton, but went to playing; and such music as he drew forth from the instrument no word can describe. The astonished listener declared that the organ seemed to have grown human—that it wailed and sighed and clamored. 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, “I have heard that you ere in want of an organist, and have come here on trial." “You’l be sure to get the place,” exclaimed the sexton. “Why, you surpass him that’s dead and gone." “No, no, —you overrate me," resumed the stranger, with a 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 a grand old pean, and the mysterious organist.— “Looking upwards full of grace, Prayed, till from a happy place God’s glory smote him on the face." and his countenance seemed not unlike that of St Michael as portrayed by Guido. Lost in the harmonies that swelled around him, he sat with far seeing gaze fixed on the distant sky—a glimpse of which he caught through the open window—when there was a stir about the church and a royal party came sweeping in. Among them might be seen a young girl, with blue eyes like the violet hue, and lips like cherries. This was the princess Elizabeth, and all eyes turned to her as she seated herself in the velvetcushioned pew appropriated to the court. No sooner had the music reached her ears than she started as if a ghost had crossed her path. At last her eyes met those of the organist, in a long yearning look, and the melody lost its joyous notes and once more wailed and clamored. “By my faith," whispered the king to his daughter, “this organist has a master hand. Hark ye! 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 painful dream she saw the pale man sitting at the organ, and heard the melody that filled the vast edifice. Aye, full well she knew who he was, and 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 mysteriously as he had come. He was not seen by the sexton until the vesper hour, and then he appeared in the organ loft and commenced his task. While he played, a veiled figure glided in and knelt near the shrine. There she knelt until the worshipers dispersed, when the sexton touched her on the shoulder and said: “Madam, every one has gone except you and me, and I wish to close the door." The sexton drew back i nto a shady niche and listened. The mysterious organist still kept his place, but his head was bowed upon the instrument and he could net see the devotee. At 'length she arose from the aisle, and, moving to the organ lolt paused before the musician. “Bertram!” she murmured. Quick as thought the organist raised his head. Inhere, 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 soft ermine trimmings, the tiara, the necklace and the bracelets, had been exchanged for a grey, serge robe and a long thick veil, which was now pushed back from the girlish face. “Oh, Elizabeth, Elizabeth!" ejaculated the organist, as he sank at her feet and gazed wistfully iato her troubl ed eyes. “Why are you here, Bertram?" asked the princess. “You are to be 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 vow which will doom me to a living death." “Think of me!" rejoined the organist. “Your royal father has requested me to play at the wedding, and I have

a half smothered farewell, left her. The next|morning dawned in cloudless splendor, and at early hour the cathedral was thrown open, and the sexton began to prepare for the brilliant wedding. Flame colored flowers waved by the wayside; flame colored leaves came rushing down from the trees and lay in light heaps upon the ground; ana the ripe wheat waved like a golden sea. and the berries dropped in red and yellow clusters ovei the rocks and along the Rhine. At length the palace gates were opened, and the royal party appeared, escorting the Princess Elizabeth to promised to be here. If I were your equal, I could be the bridegroom instead of the organist; but the poor musician must give you up." “It is like rending body and soul isunder to part with you," said the girl. “To-night I tell you this —tell you how fondly I love you; but in a few hours it will be a sin. Go, go, and God-bless you!" * She waved .him from her as if she would banish him, while she had the power to do so. And he. How was it with him? He rose to leave her, then came buck, held her on his heart in one long embrace, and with the cathedral, where her marriage wa yto be solemnized. It was a brave pageant: far brighter than the entwined foliage ana blossoms were the tufts of plumes which floated from the stately heads, and festal robes that streamed down over the housings of the superb steeds. But the princess, mounted on a snow white paJfry, and clad in snow white velvet, looked pale sad; and, when on nearing the church she heard a gust of organ music, which, though very brilliant in sound, struck on her ear like a funeral knell, she trembled and would have fallen had not a page supported her. A few moments afterwards she entered the cathedral. There, with his retinue, stood the bridegroom, whom she had never before seen. But her glance roved from him to the organ loft, where she had expected to see the mysterious organist. He was gone; and she was obliged to return the graceful bow of the king to. whom she had been betrothed from motives of policy. Mechanically she knelt at the altar-stone; mechanically listened to the service, and made the responses. Then her husband drew her to him in a convu sive embrace and whispered: “Elizabeth! my queen! my wife! look up!" Trembling in every limb she obeyed. Why did those dark feyes thrill her so ? Why did the smile bring a glow on her cheek 0 Ah, though the king wore the purple, and many a jeweled order glittered on his breast, heseemed the same humble person who had been employed to teach music, and had taught her the lore of love. “Elizabeth!" murmured the monarch, “Bertram Hoftman, the mysterious organist and King Oscar are one! Forgive my stratagem. I wished to marry you, but I would not drag you to the alter an unwilling bride. Your father was in the secret." While tears of joy rushed from her blue eves, the new made queen returned her husband’s fond kiss, and for once two hearts were made happy by a royal marriage.—[From the Gen man.