The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1903-08-01
The Awakening Of Geraldine
A Story by John Derringford.

"Will she be my real, true, sure
enough mammal" asked Tottie sol
emrly.
Yes, darling, your real, true nam
ma" answered papa fcrvently.
Like Mary Grayson's mammal
Papa laughed blithely as he thought
of the contrast between Mary Gray
sons good. plain little mamma and
the beautiful, brilliant woman Of his
choice, the woman who had promised
to take Tottie's dead mothers place in
his heart and home. "No. dear" he
said smilingly mot exactly like Mrs.
Grayson, but she will love you just as
dearly as Mary's mother loves her"
Il wish she was just 'Zactly like
Mary's mamma" Tottie insisted
gravely, cause she's SO good to me
an sometimes she kisses me an calls
me darling just like she does Mary"
Papa took the sweet, serious little
face between his hands and kissed it
tenderly. Poor little hungry heart" "
he murmured, 81 am afraid l have
neglected you. We will begin all over
when Geraldine comes, and we shall
be very happy. you and and the dear
new mamma"
Tottie said very little after that
The thought that she, whose life had
been so lonely, was to have a mamma
of her very own like all her little
friaafc ubo pcvor or;oJ III hoy, co1voo = e,
sleep in the lonely darl, CT the nurs-
cry, was too new ard wonderful to be
hurriedly comprehenlcd. She thought
of it all that evening until she kissed
papa good night, and whispered:
When will she Gomez"
Tomorrow, dearest. She will be
with us tomorrow, and after that
everything will be changed for us
both"
Tottie was dimly conscious that she
had seen the tall, beautiful woman in
bridal radiance before. She reminded
her of the snow queen of the fairy
tales, so white and lovely, and almost
as unreal. She waited patiently be-
side Marie till everything was over
and the silken crowd had ebbed away,
then papa turned at last and saw her.
Geraldine, this is our little girl,
Tottie," he said, "she is t:lc dearest lit
tie maid in the world and l am sure
you will love her very much"
The bride smiled dazzingly and
kissed the wistful upturned face, but
TO Tottie her lips seemed cold as snow.
She did not call her darling" as she
had hoped and longed that she mignt;
instead, she said, 1--WE shall be very
good friends, of course. She has your
eyes, Howard. If she doesn't change
with her growth she will be beautiful
some day"
That was all. It was quite three
months after that before Tottie saw
her again, but all the while she cher
shed a sad little hope in her lonely
heart that her dream of mother-love
would come true. Any one could have
'ead the pathetic appeal in her eager
little face when at last she greeted the
'eturning bridal couple, any one but
Geraldine Mayhem, who saw nothing
n Tottie but an encumbrance, a tax
IN her precious time, which was
with social engagements.
Tottie waited one whole day after
he homecoming for some sign of the
affection, then when hope
lied she confided her fear. to papa,
vho laughed queerly and said, "Mam-
ma is so very busy just now that she
lasn't had time to get acquainted with
Ter little girl. You'll be very good
nd obedient, won't you, darling? You
now I love her very deerly-"
more than you love me?" Tottie
sked soberly.
mot more. no, but very. very
nuch."
Marie says some people don't like
title girls. Maybe my new mamma
ont like thom neither" Tottie ven
ured.
"Oh, yes, she does. Give her time
0 get used to you, little girl. BY and
yOu Will lOIC At1 dlAOSt DIS uuCu
8 do, because she is the sweetest,
earest mamma in the world"
After that Tottie was so quiet and
atient in Geraldine's presence that
he young wife forgot her entirely un-
Il her husband put in a gentle plea
Or the little maid. ".Just an encour-
ging word, now and then, Geraldine,
nd a little caress," he advised apollo
"She'S such shrinking lit
e thing and is so fond of YOU"
Howard, / might as we'll be frank
18th you," his wife answered, un-
milingly. "The child annoys me.
he's uncanny, creepy, always listen
lg and watching and prying. If she
'ould only be naughty like other chill
ren l could stand 1t, but as 1t is she
nnoys me exceedingly. Can't you
end her to your mothers for a while,
nti! she outgrows her queerness?"
II really hate to do it. Geraldine.
ecause Tcttic Is 10 sensitive. It 10
- fault that aha n unchiidieh. for