Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1913-11-26
Thanksgiving at
Lonesome Hollow
CONTINUED FROM PAGE SIX
By FRANCIS A. MILLER

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?''
ooh, 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 llve?
1.-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
Every we'll shall expect you
promptly at r. There are eight of
you. aren't there? l want you all. re
: member Now I'll go. for the walk
is rather long. You cross the hill and
60 straight south till you reach the
Sunrise wagon road, which will take
you directly to our shack. going west.
Good night
Muly returned in great good spirits.
Jim looked dubious at first, but he was
loath to dampen the ardor OF his good
little helpmeet by voicing his DOUBTS
as to the wisdom Of inviting eight
strangers to their home
'I hope we have enough stuff on
hand" said cautious Jim 1T will take
heaps to satisfy eight hungry men. you
know"
"Of course we have plenty. Well
kill both turkeys, and I'll make four
pies instead of one and two boiled pud-
dings besides Well have potatoes and
turnips and the canned corn | put up
myself and as much cider as they can
drink. For dessert Wen have real good
coffee and iced cake. Oh, We'll have
enough, you may be sure. Jim, you
must rig up a table big enough to seat
them ALL
They worked till bedtime that night.
peeling apples. seeding raisins and
picking the turkeys The next morn
ing Milly rose long before dawn and
set about her baking and brewing.
while Jim put up big deal table that
stretcf~1 almost the length of the
room, and by noon it was set with all
the luscious viands of an eastern
Thanksgiving dinner, set with homely
platters and dishes, to be sure. but not
rougher in appearance than the men
who finally seated themselves about
the steaming board. Jim beamed hos
pitably from his place at the head of
the table and tried dutifully to 'act
Milly had said The big black whis'r
cred fellow whom the others addressed
as Blaisedale watched Milly with a
curious intentness which made her un
comfortable.
you're mighty comfortably fixed fol
these diggings." said he presently. look
ing about the walls with their homely
prints and ornaments
Eyes. we are rather comfortable
thanks to Milly's ingenuity" Jim an
swered. with a glow of affectiOnate
pride
you're lucky to be able to afford
such luxuries. for all those fancy fix
ings are Injuries in Colorado" Blaise
dale remarked significantly.
eyes. count myself one of the luck
lest men in the world. | owe every
thing to MiIly. even my life | was q
poor law student when we were mar
ried. and when my health broke dOwr
she simply took all responsibility into
her own hands. 1t was her money tina
enabled me to come here. It's her bi
Of money that we're living on now. AL
that she has in the world is in the lit
tie bank at Sunrise, where she goes
once a month to draw the necessar!
sum for our provisions. But now tina
I've got to work we're making ou
way along without much help from tn,
bank. | tell you l hated to use tina
money bad enough. but if it hadn'
been for that the Lord only knows
what would have become of me-
Milly bushed deeply and becomingly
'Why, it doesn't amount to that" sait
she, with snap her brown fingers
Gail the money in the world would b.
worthless to me if l didn't have Jim.
1--WE heard a saying about a goo,
wife being a treasure" Blaisedale re
marked. Your wife proves the trut
of it"
The dinner was a great success
W IL
teriOus influence over his fellows, grey
very talkative and entertaining n
told stories Of queer places and queere
people, which savored of familiarit
with lawlessness and lawbreakers. br
which kept Jim breathleSsly intereste
until the eight strange guests mad
their adieus Rlaisedale. who was las
to go. turned to the threshold and be-
out his hand to Milly.
'You remind me of some one | one
knew be said simply. land for b,
sake I'd like to shake hands with 70
Thank you for your hospitality YC
won't regret your kindness
That night when Jim and Milly s
talking beside their cheerful hearth
scrap of white paper crept mySteriou
" under the dobr coping. Jim 70