Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-11-29
THANKSGIVING
AT .ONESOME
H:O I, .OW 8. = :.
By ].
HELEN II. HUNTINGTON

CEEMS awfully forlorn to eat a
Thanksgiving dinner all alone.
said Milly, soberly, looking over at the
young fellow who sat mending har-
ness strap beside the blazing hearth.
Il haven't the heart to get up big,
dinner for just us two. p
Il don't see what else we can Go.
No neighbors to invite except old Pete
spra<, and he wouldn't come. We
might send him something by way Of
being neighborly." Il ! .s
AND be turned away for our aims"
the woman laughed. $ = . .@>
&'sYOu can't even 60 out on the high
ways and hedges and gather in stray
glers, like the ancient host Of Bible
fame. Maybe it is just as we'll not to
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. I guess l need III
tie outing. I'll take 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 the
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 sign of human habitation was
visible, and not sound broke the vast
stiffness save the steady tap-tap of
wocdpecker. The loneliness oppressed
Milly strangely. For two years she
had endured it in cheerful Silence,
working patiently 49,
Pm. 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,, MillJ
Bennett For Jim's sake you mustn't
give way to such foolishness.
:. Suddenly Nilly'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 leatless thicket,
walking briskly over the hill and down
She opposite descent until she dis
tinctly heard voices. Further on, at
the edge of a natural clearing, she
! came upon a party of travellers camped
beside a newly kindled fire, where a
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, a 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. tn
>'.No. I 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 throb
OF pity and made her think gratefully
of he- own coy, cheerful little shack,
with Jim waiting for her beside the
glowing fire. - .
II suppose you are simply camping
here for the night she ventured, look
ing about at the meager comforts OF
! the camp. .. ~
We'll, no. answered the black
trowed man, who impressed her at
once as being spokesman of the party.
eve came down to prospect q 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" 49,
The man looked at his fellows with
a curious smile, half questioning, half
| credrlous. "It's rather unexpected
| he remarked, humorously g.
col, 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,
| I take it," .@@' ~.
health two years ago, when ne was all
run down with overwork. We expect to
stay here until he's quite well.'''' )
we didn't notice any houses as we
passed along. Where do you liver"
Two 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.'' ! *. - i 81. = Il
7 Very we'll. shall expect you
promptly at II. There are eight of
you. aren't there? l want you all. re-
member. Now, I'll 80. for the walk
Is rather long. You cross the hill and
50 straight south till you reach the
Sunrise wagon road, which will take
you directly to our shack, going west
Good night" ...ls.. BE
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 u the wisdom Of inviting eignt
strangers to their home. .=. SIS
| You don't mind, do you, Jim!"
Milly asked, anxiously. :. .s y