The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-11-12
Lawn Fete
PerilS

! dining room in the boarding house
and discovered Willie, his roommate,
wrestling with high collar and 9TH
err indications of butterfly career
near at hand.
Willie gave another desperate tug
at the refractory end of the collar,
! hooked IL over the button and drew
long breath of relief before he an
swered
81 thought I'd drop around to that
little lawn party over on the boule-
ward" said Willie. Il believe they
rather expect me from the warmth
of the invitation got. told you
about that. didn't IL"
His smile of qualification faded
! bit as he turned and encountered
Archie's stern look of disapproval.
"There you go!" said that worldly
young man. After all the trouble I've
! taken trying to lead you into proper
paths! The moment my head is turned
you're gallivanting off to ice cream
socials on lawns! / thought | had
YOU framed up on the lawn fete pro-
position so you didn't dare walk on
the grass. And here you are, actually
! putting your head into the lions
mouth and taking chances that may
! wreck your whole career
"Oh, it isn't as bad as that, hope"
said Willie, carefully examining an
imaginary spot on the front of his
white vest. II suppose fellow can
! mingle with human beings once in a
while without hurting anything"
Back up" said Archie warningly
That's the line of talk they all be-
! gin on and it lands every one of 'em
sooner or later. 'Mingling with hui
man beings and Living the life of a
hermit and all that sort of stuff!
! They Jolly themselves along in the
belief that they can back out when
J they find they are getting in over
their depth, but you'll find there's no
lifesaving boat ready to dash to the
rescue when you begin giving your
signals of distress.
mot on your life. It's a case of
sink or swim when you get into the
social whirl, my boy. I'm trying to
reach you before you go down for the
| third time"
Willie smiled in a superior sort OF
way and gave his scarf an approving
little pat as he surveyed 1t in the
mirror.
I'm afraid you're bit cynical"
he suggested.
Cynical" echoed Archie. mot a
bit of it. Only I've been standing on
the sldelines watching the game so
long that hate to see good fellow
go wrong. Why knew young chap
about your age few years ago, and
after he once got started he didn't
last four months He began with this
lce-cream social thing, too. 1t looked
innocent-the way man learns to
play poker after he has monkeyed
with whist and cinch for few years.
He went along from the lawn fete TO
the Saturday night hop and then he
got reckless and before his friends
could butt in and drag him back to
safety he was up against afternoon
teas and junior proms and low neck
receptions and the whole blooming
show-he didn't make any limit at
all. Then, while few of us were do
ing what we could to sort OF brace
him up and make a man out of him
again, he slipped and fell and it was
all off. He was lost forever
what happened to him. inquired
Willie, with unusual interest.
MARRIED." blurted Archie. with
horror depicted in every bachelor
lineamcnt. Think of it-marriod!
And with his whole life before him!'
"Oh, there isn't danger Of anything
like that in my case protested VIII
lie, taking a surreptitious fash al
himself in the mirror to be certain
that he was looking his best
Isn't there, thought" said Archie,
warmly. That's the trouble with you
young fellows-you're always too cock
sure of yourselves until it's everlast-
ingly too late.
Say, you remind me of the boy
who thinks because he's never been
held up that he is in no danger and
the very night he blows about 1t at
the club or somewhere he has As
bounced off his skull on his way
home. You're taking chances all the
time, you know, and when you de-
liberately go TO one of these lawn
fete things it's like hanging sign on
yourself that says, Come on. I'm
easy
When you go TO this affair tonight
for instance, provided you are reck-
less enough to take chance after
I've tipped you on all this stuff,
you're taking your life in your hands.
The minute you get inside the gate
they drop flag on you, Some kindly
old lady will hook on to you before
yon have gone FIVE feet inside the
grounds and will see that you do not
make getaway until after the last
race is run and that you have a little
bet down on every event on the
lengthy program they have provided
Taking firm grasp on your bride