The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-01-30
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, as If it was nothing unusual. 1t
was just as IL he had been in the habit
Of announcing every day OF his life
that he had matrimonial intentions.
THE 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 mere boy yet-hes so awfully
young
Hes 2s" commented Derrick's
father, grufly biting his cigar and
frowning.
ut seems just the other day that he
was playing marbles and wearing out
his stockings at the knees" said Mrs.
Derrick, tearfully II just came to be-
lieve it, 1t seems too ridiculous! Why
can you imagine Derrick-that ire
sponsible boy-at the head Of 4 house
hold?"
Flat" corrected Atchison, with the
suspicion of grin. mo, l cant say
that l have a picture Of Derrick pick
ing out a good steak on his way to the
train to be sent up or frequenting in
telligence Offices. I don't believe he'd
know a steak in its natural state from
sofa cushion or have courage to face
cook in search OF job. 1t seems
funny to have a boy you've taken
across your knee and spanked talk
about getting married"
Il don't suppose We can stop him,
either" said his mother. gloomily.
Hes awfully set in his ways. And to
think that he's going to marry a girl
I've never laid eyes on but once! 1t
seems so unnatural, somehow! He
might have considered me little! He
knows it takes me SO long to get &C.
quainted with strangers. I'm sure
there were lots of nice girls around
home here. I expect she led him on.
She had on a brown dress the day I
saw her and l never did like brown.
She's not at all his style of girl"
Grace Little" said Derricks faith
err, meditatively. 81 never heard of her
father | 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 she'd never again have
such a chance. A boy as handsome as
Derrick and with as good a salary
and everything-he has always gone
| in such good society-oh. It's scheme
clear through! He says she is only ~,
| but I've no doubt she's years older
suppose she Is wild with JOY at hav-
ing landed him. And her mother-oh
can imagine how complacent her
mother must be these days at having
got her daughter settled at last! How
she will talk to the neighbors and en-
| 10y herself! Horrid, designing, ordi'
nary people,"
But we don't know them" ventured
| Atchison, with a lame attempt at JUS
| tice.
| II don't want to-" flashed Mrs. At
Gibson. Il suppose that's where Der
| rick is gone now since dinner. All
these years in his own home and now
he deserts us for Grace Titles moth
er's house! They've simply hypnot-
lied him! My boy never would treat
his parents so II he were not bewitch-
ed"
Still, it's the natural thing to get
married" said Atchison ITS done
every day"
He said that must go and call on
| the Littles." said Derrick's mother.
I'D rather be killed! / simply can't
stand having to listen to that woman
gush over Derrick and congratulate