Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1907-11-21
Thanksgiving at
Lonesome Hollow

~~~~~~>~~~
Seems awfully forlorn to eat 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. Il haven't the
heart to get up big dinner for just US
two"
II don't see 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 palms,"
the woman laughed.
| You can't even 90 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 to have all
the work of getting up Thanksgiving
dinner, for it seems to me that you look
tired, Mily. What's the matter?"
Nothing, jim; guess I need little
outing. III 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 a few torch
| like flames of red which marked the pres
ence of an occasional gum tree. The sky
| was clear, cold and palld, tinged with
greenish glow where the dark forests rim
lined the far horizon. Not sign of hu-
man habitaton was visible, and not
sound broke the vast stiffness save the
steady tap-tap of woodpecker. The
loneliness oppressed Milly strangely. For
! h. boJ IL in full
silence, working patiently at whatever
her hand found to do in the rough little
shack which had gradually assumed
cozy, homelike appearance. They had
left the busy, grinding East in quest of
health for her young husband who was
slowly regaining his lost strength and
vigor in the bracing climate of Colorado,
which alone kept Mily's heart light and
hopeful, but in spite of that joyful fact
she could not dspe a 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, as
she walked down the untraveled road in
the face of the crisp north wind. THAT
will never do wou you. Milly Bennet. For
u
fooishness."
Suddenly Milly's ear caught the sound
of chopping which seemed to come from
the Hollow beyond the divide. She turn
ed and made her way easily through the
leahess thicket, walking briskly over the
hill and down the opposite descent until
she distinctly heard voices. Further on,
at the edge Of a natural clearing, she
came upon 4 party of travellers camped
beside a newly kindled fire, where a lean,
gaunt appearing fellow busted himself
with preparations for the evening meal.
They were eight in all, rough, unk kempt
lot In leathern jackets and rusty boots.
Beside the cook lay a bag Of -four, a
rs sher of bacon and two jugs stopped with
corncobs.
Milly 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 horse feed and looked at her
niercingly. LOST" he asked brusquely.
"No. | live two miles up the divide.
happened to hear you chopping, and stop
ned out of curiosity
The mans insstant gaze annoyed her.
but the forlorn, gaunt appearance Of the
little group melted a little throb Of pity
and made her think gratefully of her own
COW, cheerful little shack, with Jim wait
ing for her beside the glowing hearth.
~ suppose you are simply camping here
Cor tho night" she ventured, looking about
at tbe meager comforts of the camp.
"Well. no." answered the black browed
man who impressed her at once as being
sr,okesman Of the party. 1--WE came down
~ prospect a bit. There's talk of gold
In this claim, and il It's worth our while
we may set up for week or two
"Oh. then you'll be here over Thanks
irving, won't you? I'd like to have you
all take dinner with us tomorrow"
The man looked at his fellows with a
curious smile, half questioning, half cred
plous. Its rather unexpected" he re-
marked humorously.
"Oh, we're all neighbors out here, you
know" Miny explained cordially. MY
husband would be very glad to have you
with US. We are from the East, and
we're used to having company for Thanks
giving"
your husband is a prospector, too. 1
take it?"
"Oh, no. He came out here for his
beelth two years ago, when he was all
run down with overwork. We expect to
.,av here until he's quite WELL"
1--WE didn't notice any houses as we
>as,ed along Where do you live7"
'~rvs niIss below here, On tbs Sunrise