The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-12-16


policy for $1,000 was issued to Alfred ing
Mattison Lamp. He paid the last der
premium, on this policy in March, will
1911. Il lapsed for the non. payment We
Of the next premium March 10, 1912. Low
Mr.. Lamp died in the hospital at fir.
Alhambra Springs. Montana. Feb VIZ
ruary 20. 1913. An
These are the facts as they stood 70
on the books Of the company, where WI
there is no room for the stories that wi
are bound up with every policy ever POI
issued. Companies do not know,
they can only guess at the scene
back OF each record--soeres which IN,
so often begin like the one in the an
Lamp home, where at intervals an
through the night the little woman m,
heard the subdued voices Of those
who watched over her dear dead
her husband. Snatches Of sleep came ~
TO her during the hours that dragged s.,
slowly by. ~;
With the first light OF morning. -.
the great cutting pain returned that. ~,
like a knife, had entered her heart
when they tciephoned from the hos
p;tal saying. "he is gone" and when
she arose she staggered like an ="
aged person. ~
Dropping back or the bed. she ~
gave herself up for a moment to the
weakness and pain.
Then the stirring Of a child and t,t
the tossing OF wee hand caught tn
her eye. Rising. she went to the
bed and patted the baby gently.
Then she went to another little bed he
where two children slept. l.;
Al am all they have now" she he
said. tears blurring the picture OF hq
the little brown head and the one be
with golden hair. "For them must n,
live ard love and work and be pa h.
tent"
Through the soft folds Of w,d- 4.
ow's veil the Little Woman watched a,
loving hands hide newly made -,
grave under fragrant flowers, and :,
when Il was all over she returned =,
home. i,
II was little home, but every =,
where were remembrances OF him. -,
and tears came to her eyes she
recalled the many comforts and cor -
ven,erces he had arranged for her.
But II might be worse" she said "
bravey. - might not have home"
Then thought camo suddenly. The
look OF sorrow her face gave
place to one OF great distress. In OF
the worry and pain Of the last few u
weeks she had forgotten the mort d
gage. -
II had not before seemed large,
but that was because he had been
there. Now it doomed before her al
in tremendous proportions. b,
Alone in the world with three lii
tie children; no income; no bank IL
| account; the mortgage; the home:
how dear that little place had be. s.
come; must Il be sold to pay the u
debt? The realization OF her con IL
dt,on came xlowly-too grave to be o.
9rasped at once. Il
She determined to be brave and i
for time tried to solve the ves,ng G;
problem; but Il was no use. Turn A.
any way she would, she could find u
no escape from that awful debt n
Wearied and depressed she buried &,
her face in her hands while sobs Of n
grief and disappointment racked her
frail body.
A step sounded or the walk. but =.
she paid no heed. Someone was at :.
the door. but she did not answer, :.
until the knocking grew insistent. y
The visitor proved to be mes '.
senge from the bank. She noticed
the package he extended towards :,
her and inquired. ais it the mort
agge2 cannot pay Il now" these :.
arc your husbands papers, replied y
the messenger, handing her the :"
package. On tho wrapper. IN her
husbands handwriting, she read, =,
ITO be delivered to my wife on the
day Of my funeral"
The package contained a number
OF legal papers and letters. On one q
envelope was written, my last love y
letter" Opening il the little woman u
i read: Il
my Dearest Wifs-When you N
receive this l will be far away fror, N
you; so far that the only answer v
you can give me will be your un- n
changing love. I am writing this |