The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-19

something especially tender in his music.
 But the effort was too much for him. All or sudden his head began to reel. his eyes dimmed. and his voice failed. He clutched at a chair and fell to the floor He semed to realize that the end was draw Ing near, and his eyes filled with tears as De gazed upon the young girl.
 If a friend like the one beside him could do so much for an old man, what would love have been in his younger days? She had been so kind to him and he owed so much to the tender words and gentle deeds! lie seemed to be thinking of the past as he looked into her eyes and began to talk.
 Your name is Rosa. It Is sweet name. You are my friend; you-you are my Rosa?' Ihen sudden light came into his eyes and he sprung from the couch My Rosa"' he exclaimed. My Rosary! I will write song to 1t and 1t shall be called for you" He faltered e minute, and then added In a pathetic voice, and I fear 1t will be my last"
 It was then that one of the sweetest songs ever composed was born. He was enthused with the inspiration and. almost too sick to stand alone, went ts his studio. There. all night long. by the light of the oil lamp. he toiied at the piano. putting his emotions into music.
 He adapted Robert Cameron Rogers poem. My Rosary" to the music of his inspired soul
 By daylight it was finished. He made a copy and carried 1t to her to try. He never played an accompaniment as he did thaF morning and she sang the song as it has never been sung since. A week later she sang 1t in concert and 1t caught the pub lic ear like a whirlwind. until today 1t is being sung from ocean to ocean.
 Never Recovered.
 But the musician never recovered from the shock. He took to his bed and grad ually the eyes dimmed until last week they closed forever.
 During his illness almost every morning there was bunch of roses beside his bed that had been gathered by the fair Southern girl and often she would drop in for a few minutes to cheer him up and bring some deiicacy which she had prepared with her own hands to tempt his appetite. It was she who sat beside his bed and cooled his brow as the light in his eyes died away
 The funeral took place at the church which he had served as orRanist. It was an unusually solemn occasion.
 Just as the minister finished his discourse a beautiful. sunny faced girl stepped to the chapel rail, and began the tender, sweet strains of melody to tho soft accom- paninent of the great organ.
 My Rosary" was the singer and the song was the same. The dead composer lay at her feet. The audience was as still as death, and as the last notes of the pure sweet voice died away. many eyes were filled with tears
 The remains were laid in Greenwood, and on the red earth of the new made mound the same girlish figure placed a large bunch of Southern. roses.
 The story of how the song was composed in every copy of the music thereafter in the hopes that it would lead to the discovery of the lost sweetheart Recently Heinrich Conrad. of "ParsifaP' fame, wentoto Europe. One night while occupying a box in the theatre at Vienna with a party of friends singer came out on the stage and My Rosary was the song sang. In the party with Mir. Conrad was Leah Lessi, the we'll known actress and writer. As the notes of the beautiful song thrilled the audience something touched the woman in the box and feeling of desolation came over her.
 Sending a note to the singer after the performance she was granted an interview and there she learned that the sweetheart of her youth was the composer of the song. She read the story, learned his fate for the first time and broke down in tears
 The party knew nothing of the second tragedy that was enacted, but next morning they were informed that Miss Lessi was preparing to leave for America and soon she Is expected to visit the grave of the sweetheart of her youth and leave a last token-a bunch of Southern roses.