The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-14
An AWFUL SURPRISE.
A Man Expecting 10 Surprise = vNOm'
Einda Her Dead.

- u LA LAA
A Man Expecting 10 surprise I Woman
Finds Her Dead.
Mrs. Agnes Percsvill died at ono o'clock yes
terdAy OF pneumonia in the Payne hotel on
Benton avenue, whore she had been eln-
ployed ~ house keeper. b took sick on
Monday.
There il an unuaually sad and pathetic
side to this woman'a death. she WAS a
widow. about forty years Of age, and was a
native OF the New England states. A. son
about twenty-ons years old survives her.
He is living ON a cattle ranch At Floyd, a
place fifty miles from Chinook. The son
was notified OF his mothers death. Among
those who are acquainted with the deceased
only the kindliest and moAt sincere express
sions of regard can be heard. 1t 10 said of
her that everyone who knew her loved her
for her virtues and womanly nature.
Her husband died about three years ago.
One year ago she came to Helena with her
son and started a private hotel, She gave
this up in January and went to work for 1.
l.. Matthews. who conducts the hotel. He
mourns her loss and speaks Of her as a
most noble m who possessed rare ami
able qualities. She toiled hard for her son
who seemed to her the only n she had to
work for. She gave him $1,000 to start in
the cattle business and sent him all abe
could save.
There is another side to the story Of her
death, however, that is strongly pathetic.
M. H. Philips, u travelling man, was among
her occasional boarders. He is 4 kentuckian
of massive frame, big and tender hearted
as kentuCkians generally are
and especially towards the fair
sex. He dow n
fine looking, middle aged man. When IN
the city it gave him great pleasure to go
out with Mrs, Percevill when she went mar
keting and he took a most kindly interest
in the woman. When he was away travel
ing around the country AZ his business re-
quired, he frequently he ard from Mrs. Per
cevill by letter. Those who knew them
fully expected that their relations would
subject Mr.. Philips does not like to dwell.
He has a little girl which he expected to
place in the kindly care of the woman. He
was in 81. Louis not many days ago and
wrote a letter to the widow about the care
of his little daughter. He expected to re,
grew quite ill on Monday and requested
that a telegram be sent on Tuesday to MI.
Philips at st. Paul. The message was sent,
telling OF her illness, but Mr.. Philips did
not receive it.
He arrived in Helena yesterday with a
light heart and had made up IN his mind
a little surprise for the woman whom he
considered among his most lovable friends.
He tripped stealthilv into the hotel without
notifying anyone of his presence and noise
lessly entered the dining ROOM, then peered
to where he heard women's voices n
following his steps up he came to a rear
parlor. There he saw the body of the woman.
not yet cold in death. Only such q
strong frame as Mr.. Philips possesses could
have stood the shock, but he bore up nObly,
like the strong man that he is. The strain
was too much and he fell into a chair,
buried his face in his hands, and the
anguish of that man can better be imagined
than described. 1t is probable that no
man was ever more surprised.
Mrs. Percevill was a woman of education
and had once been a school teacher. She
has a sister, Miss Blake, at Fort Wayne,
Ind, who was in Helena about a year ago.
No arrangements have yet been made for
the funeral. The arrival of the son is
awaited.