The log cabin Democrat., 1916-04-10
HE LION HUNTER.
By LOUISE OLIVER.

! nave all sorts Ol WOuueT1uI lnlnSS planned for the summer; besides, Dicks cousin is coming for month i or so-you know, the one I've told you Rbout-the traveller who has been ev. erything from a Japanese consul to a Peruvian treasure hunter, to say nothing of big game everywhere you can think of. Naturally he has money, so here's your chance, my poor, big dependent sister. Get your little rich charges off for the seashore, if you must but don't lose another second. And mind you don't call me names when you read this, for both Dick and I are concerned about your future and are determined to see you con- fortably settled. We know what is better for you than you do yourself
 Your loving sister, ANNE" Hermione smiled indulgently. Dear l little Anne AS though her big sister wasn't perfectly well able to look after herself 1 cant see why people in sist upon pitying me just because happen to be the only surviving mem- Der of the family and earn my own living, and because, too, 1 have re- sisted matrimony until I'm the only one of the old set that's left. All right, little sister, I'll hurry to your little cottage by the sea just because I love it and you, but not to bait any lion hunter and settle myself in life, as you put it."
 J@l~ T, hot you, Peter? Doing? Reading let ter from my little sister in Sedgwick. She says she has something for me and she wants me to hurry and get it. You'd never guess what it is"
 "A dog," Peter ventured.
 No"
 "Jewelry?'
 "Wrong!"
 Some good advice. Sisters are usually long on that"
 Moves! Anyway, it's advice of kind. She's found me husband"
 I'll kill him!' jealously.
 An amused ripple was his answer How funny from you, Peter. I nev- CT knew the quiet, mysterious pool was geyser or, rather, to be in keep ing with your name, 1 never suspect ed that the great solid, dependable rock was volcano. Don't be so bloodthirsty, Peter. l have just been thinking that nice, rich, famous, jewel-conferring husband might be quite a comfort teasingly.
 T tell you I'll shoot him." savage ly.
 tonight, aren't you? l have every thing done"
 Yes, I wouldn't miss going for a thousand worlds. So I'll reserve my threats till then. by, dear girl"
 Hermione turned away with a trou- bled look. It had been one of the foun- dation stones of their friendship-in fact, the very ground itself-that ev- erything between them be frank, homely and purely platonic. No sen. timent of any kind allowed. It was so comfortable to have Peter to de pend upon. He took her to concerts, lectures, anywhere she wanted to go kept her up on the evolution of Yuan Shih-kai and the Chinese empire, and discussed both sides of the possible embargo on war supplies. He read her The Gods of the Mountain" or something of the kind while she darned his socks and sewed on miss ing buttons. She had insisted in this Peter she had said, don't throw away your socks if they show a hole r two. Let me mend them. I must do something for you" She hadn't dared to tell him the real reason that the best diet she knew for anti sentimentalism was plenty of darn ing. The tone just now had worried her.
 Peter arrived at eight with a box of candy and a torn shirt wrapped in paper, with suspiciously neat-look, ing hole between the shoulders.
 Hermione seized it with delight. Peter whatever will become of you if you keep on wearing out your clothes l don't see how you wear hole away up there. It looks almost like a cut"
 I've been wondering what would become of me if it were not for you, Hermione. I'd be a regular Rip Van Wrinkle for rags"
 She flushed appreciatively. Then a serious look came into her eyes, and when Peter had spread out new magazine and she had slipped on her thimble, she ventured. I'm going to ask you something tonight-some- thing serious, yet I don't want you to take it seriously"
 He looked amused. He was accus- toned to her odd prefaces, however. But he was petritied for an instant be- yond reply when she went on hur- riedly: T want to be engaged to you for awhile. Don't think l am taking advantage of leap year, kind friend no doubt you've had a dozen propos. als by this time; at least if you haven't you should have had. But if