, 1907-12-30
THEIR POINT
OF VIEW

The Atchison family was terribly
upset The news had just been brok-
en- to them by Derrick Atchison him.
self that he was going to be mar
ried.
What stunned them most was his
way Of telling them this quite natur-
ally, az II 1t was nothing unusual. 1t
was Just ~ II he had been in the habit
Of announcing every day Of his life
that he had matrimonial intentions.
sThe idea Of his thinking Of getting
married." almost wept Mrs. Atchison
that evening to her husband. "Why
didn't you tell him he was foolish in
stead of just sitting there! Derrick's
a mt boy yet-he's 80 awfull9
young!"
"He's 49," commented Derrick's
father, gruf1y, biting his cigar and
frowning.
1T seems just the other day that he
was playing marbles and wearing out
his stockings at the knees" said Mrs.
Derrick, tearfully. Il just came to be-
lieve It! It seems too ridiculous! Why
can you imagine Derrick-that IRE
sponsible boy-at the head of a house
hold?"
Flat" corrected Atchison, with the
suspicion of a grin. mo, l can't say
that I have a picture Of Derrick pick
ing out a good steak on his way to the
train to be sent up or %freuuenting in
telligence offices. / don't believe he'd
know a steak in its natural state from
a sofa cushion or have courage to face
a cook in search Of a job. 1t seems
funny to have . boy you've taken
across your knee and spanked talk
about getting married"
II don't suppose We a stop him.
either" said HIS mother, gloomily.
Hes awfully set in his ways. And to
think that he's going to marry q girl
I've 'never laid eyesron but once! 1t
seems SO unnatural. somehow! He
might have considered me a little! He
knows it takes me 80 long to get ac-
quainted with strangers. I'm sure
there were lots> Of nice girls around
home here. 1 expect she led him on.
She had on a brown dress the day ]
saw her and ], never did like brown.
She's not at all his style of girl"
Grace Little" said Derrick's faith.
er, meditatively. II never heard Of hel
father. 1 don't believe he can amount
to much in his line"
mo doubt she just worked Derrick
into proposing" said Mrs. Atchison,
twisting her handkerchief. "She is
probably one Of the scheming kind
and thought shed never again have
such a chance. A boy az handsome as
Derrick and with ~ good a salary
and everything-he has always gone
In such good society-oh, it's scheme
clear through. He says she Is only 20,
but I've no doubt she's years older.
suppose she is wild with Joy at hav-
Ing landed him. And her mother-oh,
I al imagine how complacent her
mother must be these days at having
got her daughter settled at last! How
she will talk to the nsighbors and en-
10y herself! Horrid. designing. ordi-
nary people!"
0aS VIC 0Ou AAVW SAoAAp SVASoAoA
Atcfifson, with a lame attempt 1t jus
uce.
II don't want tot" flashed Mrs. At.
Gibson. II suppose that's where Dor.
rick il gone now Mnpe dinner. All
these years in hl1 own hcme And now
she deserts VI for Grace Titles moth
ers house! They've simply hypnot.
tied him! MY boy never would treat
his parents 30 II he were not beWitch,
sd!"
18TH, it's the natural thing to get
married. said Atchison. ITS done
every day"
"Hs said that I mastSa - anA call On
the Littles," said Derr1ck'E mother.
I'D rather be killed. I simply can't
sataSd haying 70 l!stse e tAat woman