Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1907-11-30
Thank sgiving at
Lonesome Hollow

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Seems awfully forlorn to ear a
Thanksgiving dinner all alone" said Mil
ly soberly, looking over at the young fell
low who sat mending a harness strap be-
side the blazing hearth. "I haven't the
heart to get up big dinner for just us
two"
Il don't gee what else we can do No
neighbors to invite except old Pete Sprat,
and he wouldn't come. We might send
him something by way of being neigh
borly."
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.5ust 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 matter?"
Nothing, jim; | guess l need little
outing. I'll take a run across the Hollow
and be back before supper"
Milly 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 pres
ence of an occasional gum tree. The sky
was clear, cold and pallid, tinged with a
greenlsh glow where the dark forests rim
med the far horizon. Not a sign Of hui
man habitation was visible, and not a
sound broke the vast stiffness save the
steady tap-tap of a woodpecker. The
loneliness oppressed Milly strangely. For
two years she had endured il in cheerful
silence, working patiently at whatever
her hand found to do in the rough little
shack which had gradually assumed a
cory, homelike appearance. They had
left the busy, grinding East in ques, of
health for her young husband, who was
slowly regaining his lost strength and
vigor in the bracing climate of Colorado
which alone kept Milly's heart light and
hopeful, but in spite of that joyful fact
she could not dispel shiver Of loneliness
when she thought of the long dreary win
ter before them.
I'm getting morbid simply for the
want Of a little company" she said, a
she walked down the untraveed road in
the face of the crisp north wind That
will never do won you, Milly Bennett. For
Jim's sake you mustn't give way to sucl
foolishness."
Suddenly Milly's ear caught the SCUM
Of chopping which seemed to come from
the Hollow beyond the divide. She turn
ed and made her way easily through the
leihess thicket. walking briskly over tn,
hi and down the opposite descent unit
sic distinctly heard voices. Further on
a the edge of a natural clearing, sh,
clme upon a party of travellers campet
beside newly kindled fire, where a lean
giunt appearing fellow busted himself
with preparations for the evening meal
They were eigh; ia all, a rough. unkempl
lot in leathern Jackets and rusty boots
Reside the cook lay a bag of flour.
usher Of bacon and two jugs stopped wifi
,orrcobs.
AIilly stopped abruptly when she foanc
lerself observed by the curious eyes Of
sght strangers, then changed her min,
and crossed the icy little brook and mad.
Ter way toward the fire.
A big, black-whiskered man dropped
lis armfu Of horse feed and looked at he
oiercingly. LOST he asked brusquely
mo. | live two miles up the divide
happened to hear you chopping, and stop
bed out of curiosity
The mans insistant gaze annoyed her
but the forlorn, gaunt appearance of tn
little group melted a little throb cf pitt
and made her think gratefully of her owl
coy, cheerful little shack, with Jim wait
ing for her beside the glowing hearth.
- IL suppose you are simply camping herr
Cor the night" she ventured, looking abou
at the meager comforts of the camp.
.,xx-ou mn ancvprpd tho hla oh hroura,
man who impressed her at once as beinJ
spokesman Of the party. 1--WE came dowI
70 prospect bit. There's talk of gol,
In this claim, and if it's worth our Will
we may set up for a week or two"
"Oh, then you'll be here over Thanks
giving. won't you? I'd like to have yol
all take dinner with us tomorrow"
The man looked at his fellows with
curious smile, half questioning, half cred
ulous. TITS rather unexpected" he re
marked humorously.
"Oh, we're all neighbors out here, you
know" Milly explained cordially. M.
husband would be very glad to have yol
with us. We are from the East, an,
we're used to having company for Thanks
giving"
"Your husband is a prospector, too.
take It'll"
"Oh, no. He came out here for hi
health two years ago, when he was al
run down with overwork. We expect t
stay here until he's quite we'll"
1--WE didn't notice any houses as W
passed along. Where do you live"
"4syO miles below here, on the sunris