Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-06-10
The Awakening Of Geraldine.
A Story by John Derringford.

''Will she be my real, true, sure
enough mammal" asked Tottie SOL
EMMY.
Yes, darling, your real, true mann
ma" answered papa fervently.
Like Mary Graysons 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. mo, dear he
said smilingly, mot exactly like Mrs.
Grayson, but she will love you just as
dearly as Mary's mother loves her"
II 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 | 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 mamma
of her very own like all her little
friends who never cried themselves to
sleep in the lonely dark of the nurs-
cry, was too new and wonderful to be
hurriedly comprehended She thought
of 1t 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 the 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 might;
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. 1t was quite three
months after that before Tottie saw
her again, but all the while she cher
ished a sad little hope in her lonely
heart that her dream of mother-love
would come true. Any one could have
read the pathetic appeal in her eager
little face when at last she greeted the
returning bridal couple, any one but
Geraldine Mayhem, who saw nothing
in Tottie but an encumbrance, a tax
on her precious time, which was
crowded with social engagements
Tottie waited one whole day after
the Homecoming for some sign of the
longed-for affection then when hope
died she confded her fear to papa,
who laughed queerly and said, "Mam-
ma is SO very busy just now that she
hasn't had time to get acquainted with
her little girl You'll be very good
and obedient, won't you, darling? You
know | love her very derby"
More than you love me?" Tottie
asked soberly
mot more, no, but very, very
much"
Marie says some people don't like
little girls. Maybe my new mamma
don't like them neither" Tottie ven
tured.
'Oh, yes, she does. Give her time
to get used to you, little girl. BY and
by you will love her almost as much
as l do, because she is the sweetest,
dearest mamma in the world"
After that Tottie was so quiet and
patient in Ger2ldines presence that
the young wife forgot her entirely I'M
til her husband put il 4 gentle plea
for the little maid. Just an encour-
aging word, now and then, Geraldine,
and a little caress,' he advised apollo
getically. She's such shrinking lit
tie thing and is so fond of you
Howard, | might as we'll be frank
with you," his wife answered, un-
smilingly. "The child annoys me.
She's uncanny, creepy, always listen
ing and watching and prying. If she
would only be naughty like other chill
dren l could stand it, but as it is she
annoys me exceedingly. Can't you
send her to your mothers for a while,
until she outgrows her queerness?"
Il really hate to do it, Geraldine,