The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-11-24
THANKSGIVING
AT LONESOME
HOLLOW =. - :.
BY
HELEN F. HUNTINGTON
CEEMs awfully forlorn to eat

maven the uedrC 10 get up O Va;
dinner for just us two"
81 don't see what else we can 40
No neighbors to invite except old Pet
Sprat, and he wouldn't come. W.
might send him something by way o
being nejghborly."
"And be turned away for our pains,
the woman laughed.
"You can't even go out on the high
ways and hedges and gather in strag
glers, like the ancient host of Bible
fame. Maybe it is just as well not tx
have all the work of getting up
Thanksgiving dinner, for it seems to
me that you look tired, Milly. What's
the matter?"
Nothing, Jim. 1 guess I need lit
tie outing. I'll take a run across the
Hollow and be back before supper"
Miily put on her cloak and went out
into the crisp autumn afternoon. The
woods were bare except for few torch
like flames of red which marked tne
presence of an occasional gum tree
The sky was clear, cold and pallid
tingel with greenish glow where the
dark forests trimmed the far horizon
Not 4 sign of human habitation was
visible, and not sound broke the vast
stiffness save the steady tap-tap OF a
woodpecker. The loneliness oppressed
Milly strangely. For two years she
had endured it in cheerful silence,
working patiently.
'T'm getting morbid simply for the
want of little company" she said, as
she walked down the untraveled road
in the face of the crisp north wind.
THAT will never do for you,,. Milly
Bennett. For Jim's sake you mustn't
give way to such foolishness."
Suddenly Milly's ear caught the
sound of chopping which seemed to
come from the Hollow beyond the d.
vide. She turned and made her way
easily through the leafiess thicket,
walking briskly over the hill and down
the opposite descent until she dis
tinctly heard voices. Further on, at
the edge of a natural clearing, she
came upon party of travellers camped
beside a newly kindled fire, where q
lean, gaunt appearing fellow busted
himself with preparations for the even
ing meal. They were eight in all, a
rough, unkempt lot in leathern jackets
and rusty boots. Beside the cook lay
bag of flour, rasher of bacon, and
two jugs stopped with corncobs.
Miily stopped abruptly when she
found herself observed by the curious
eyes of eight strangers, then changed
her mind and crossed the icy little
brook and made her way toward the
fire.
A big, black-whiskered man dropped
his armful Of horsefeed and looked at
her piercingly. LOST" he asked,
brusquely.
mo. l live two miles up the divide.
happened to hear you chopping, and
stopped out of curiosity"
The mans insistent gaze annoyed
her, but the forlorn, gaunt appearance
of the little group melted little thro5
Of pity and made her think gratefully
of her own cozy, cheerful little shack,
with Jim waiting for her beside the
glowing fire. .....-
81 suppose you are simply camping
here for the night" she ventured, look
ing about at the meager comforts of
the camp. -.
well, no." answered the black
trowed man, who impressed her at
once as being spokesman of the party.
eve came down to prospect a bit.
There's talk of gold in this claim, and
if it's worth our while we may set up
for a week or two"
ooh, then, you'll be here over
Thanksgiving, won't you? I'd like to
have you all take dinner with us to-
morrow"
The man looked at his fellows with
curious smile, half questioning, half
credElous. tits rather unexpected"
he remarked, humorously.
"Oi4, we're all neighbors out here,
you know" Milly explained, cordially
'My husband would be very glad to
have you with us. We are from the
east, and we're used to having COM
pany for Thanksgiving"
your husband is a prospector, too,
/ take it?"
"Oh, no. He came out here for his
health two years ago, when he was all
run down with overwork We expect to
stay here until he's quite we'll"
eve didn't notice any houses as we
passed along. Where do you live?"
"Iwo miles below here, on the Sun
rise road, not on the trail. Will you
come over tomorrow"
"Well, being as you're so kind as to
take the trouble to invite us we'll be
glad to accept your hospitality, and
thank YOU"
Very well. I shall expect YOU
promptly at II. There are eight of
you, aren't there? 1 want you all, re-
member. Now, I'll go, for the walk
is rather long. You cross the hill and
go straight south till you reach the
Sunrise wagon road, which will take
you directly to our shack, going west.
Good night"
Miliy returned in great good spirits.
jim looked dubious at first, but he was
10th to damp the ardor of his good
little helpmeet by voicing his doubts
as to the wisdom of inviting eight
strangers to their home.
"You don't mind, do you, Jim?''