Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1905-11-24
THANKSGIVING
AT LONESOME
HOLLOW :. /:
HELEN L. HUNTINGTON
CEEMS awfully forlorn to eat Il

said Milly. soberly. looking over at the
young fellow who sa: mending a har-
ness strap beside the blazing hearth.
Il haven't the heart to get up a big
dinner for just us two"
IL don't see what else we can 40.
No neighbors to invite except old Pete
Spra., and hi wouldn't come. We
might send him something by way of
being n~eighborly."
And be turned away for our pains"
the woman laughed.
You can't even go out on the hish-
ways and hedges and gather in stray
Slers, like the ancient host of Bible
fame. Maybe it Is just as well not to
have all the work of getting up a
Thanksgiving dinner, for it seems to
me that you look tired, Milly. What's
the mattcr?"
Nothing. Jim. I guess l need a IL
tie outing. I'll take a run across me
Hollow and be back before supper"
Miiiy put on her cloak and went out
into the crisp autumn afternoon. The
woods were bare except for a few torch
like flames of red which marked the
presence of an occasional gum tree.
The sky was clear, cold and pallid.
tingel with a greenish glow where the
dark forests trimmed the far horizon.
Not { sign of human habitation was
visible, and not a sound broke the vast
stiffness ave the steady tap-tap of a
woCGpecker. The loneliness oppressed
Milly strangely. For two years she
HAD endured it in cheerful silence,
working patiently.
I'm getting morbid simply for the
want of a little company" she said. as
she walked down the %untraveled roa
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 car 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 lea.less thicket.
walklns brishly over the hill and dowa
the opposite descent until she dis
t1nctly heard voices. Further on, at
the edge of a natural clearing, she
came upon a party of travellers campe1
beside a newly kindled fire, where 4
lean, Saunt appearing fellow busted
himself with preparations for the even-
ing meal. They were eight in ali, Il
rough, unkempt lot in leathern JACKIE
and rusty boots. Beside the cook lay
{ baS of -four, a rasher of BARN, and
fIyn iipG ctnnnnI with nnrpr.,hS
Miily stopped abrupt when she
fouEG herself OhSe:r.d by the curious
eyes of cigh: strangers, then changed
her mi0a and crossed the icy little
hook 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. | live two miles up the divide.
. happened to hear you choppi1g. and
stopped out of curiosity"
The mans insistCnt gaze annoyed
her, but the f%orlorn, gaunt appearance
OF the little group melted a little thro3
OF pity and made her think gratefuily
OF her " coy, cheerful little shack
with Jim waiting for her beside the
glowing fire.
Il suppose you are simply camping
here for the night" she ventured. lock-
ing about at the meager comforts OF
the camp.
well, no." answered the Hack
troweu man. who impressed mr. al
once as being spokesman Of tho parry.
"Wt came down to prospect a bit.
Therc 3 talk of gold in this claim, and
if It's worth our while we may set up
for a week or two
"Oh 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
a curious smile, half questioning, half
credulous. ITS rather unexpected"
he remarked. humorously.
oh. 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?"
ION, no. He came out here for MS
health two years ago, when ne was all
run down with Overwork. We expect To
stay here until he's quite we'll"
I'VE didn't notice any houses - We
passed along. Where do you live?"