In the story "The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky", by Stephen Crane, we are introduced to a newlywed couple traveling from San Antonio to their hometown of Yellow Sky. Jack Potter, the husband, is an important man and as a town marshal he frequently had to deal with troubled individuals like Scratchy Wilson. But when Scratchy meets Jack for the first time after his wedding, he realizes that he is no longer dealing with a town marshal, but instead with Jack Potter who is now a married man.
As we see from conversation between saloon owner and one of the visitors, that Scratchy Wilson often goes on a shooting rampages when he is drunk, and the only person who can tame him is Jack Potter. What's interesting is that Jack never dealt with Scratchy in severe matter, as a matter of fact the worst it ever got, was when Scratchy got shot in the leg. Jack allowed him to let the steam out, to get back to the days when he was a part of "old gang that used to hang out along the river". (46) One might even say that Jack and Scratchy are not so different. They allow each other to break from everyday life and act foolish once in a while.
When Scratchy runs in to Jack he is not aware of big changes in Jacks life and still wants to fight him. But as Jack says, "I've just come from San Anton" with my wife. I"m married." (48), it becomes obvious to Scratchy that everything changing around him, people move on. He knows that he lost his playmate and that it's the end of their friendly gunplay. Hearing those words, Scratchy just picks up his revolvers, turns around and walks away.
In the end, it looks like Scratchy finally realizes that his boyhood is over and it is time to move on. Everyone around him make big changes in their lives and it is time for him to come of age and stop acting like he is in one of the old Western stories.
