Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-11-13
GEOFFREY'S MOTHER
By ALLISON FINLEY
Copyright. by Daily Story Pub. Co..


The night lamp Was turned low in
the nursery and cast soft shadows on
the rosebud walls. Everything spoke
of preparation for the night, even the
Teddy" bear beside the little boy in
the bed in the corner, seemed to be
sleeping and, yet the small owner of
it all was awake, staring patiently
up at the ceiling. Godfrey was wait
ing for his mother.
Each bedtime, after he was snug
in bed and his nurse had everything
arranged for the night, he lay there,
until his mother, coming to him in
her pretty gowns, gave her little boy
his goodnight kiss.
And she never disappointed him.
He was big boy now, almost half
past four and, tonight, lying on his
back. he was listening eagerly for his
sweetheart. 1t was his mothers pet
name for him, and he had also adopt
ed it. He was waiting expectantly for
the sweet, beautiful mother, who
would come to him, and, after hug
ging and kissing him, would tuck him
in and leave him glowing with her
visit
Suddenly he heard her light, quick
step in the hall and the delicate frou
frou of her silken petticoats thrilled
him deliciously. Now Godfrey was in
his mothers arms and she was whis-
pering to him in a tender, little way
she had.
Tonight she looked at him careful.
| ly after she let him go. She was radi-
ant in some soft clinging gown and
the jewels, on her throat, glistened as
she turned toward him. She was evi.
IDENTIFY going to one of her evening
parties.
Godfrey looked at her adoringly
and, seeing it in his eyes, she put her
arms around him and drew him close
to her.
Mother, mother, how beautiful you
are, and, oh, how good you always
| SMELL" he said, as he buried his nose
| in her throat. Il can smell it long
after you co.
She laughed softly, do you like it.
| sweetheart, it's violets, mother loves
! them
mo, no, it isn't violets, it's you and
| 1t makes me sleep better. l wish
could smell it always"
Il must go now, dearest. here is
mothers 'hankie, put it under your
cheek and go bye-bye."
She was turning to 60, when Geof
frey looking at her, burst out, Moth
! er, have you only money!"
why. Godfrey boy. what do you
mean"
Il heard cook tell James that you
took father for his money and, that
that was all you had gotten. What is
taking anybody, mother?"
She was gazing at him with some
thing in her eyes he had never seer
before. "Geoffrey dear, it is nothing
nothing"
But, have you, mother, have you
only money!"
She looked at him and she looked
just as he felt before he cried; only
he remembered ''grown-ups" never
cried. Il have you dear, and you're
not money. are your" She went away
quickly and, somehow to him, hel
step sounded differently as though she
were tired.
He spread out the handkerchief
gravely. 1t was little square of lin
en- with deep lace border He looked
at it lovingly, then putting it up to
his face, kissed his treasure and
smiling happily, went to sleep with II
close under his cheek.
Mrs. Darragh, on her way to he,
room where her maid waited with
her cloak, smiled bitterly. 1t had
reached the boy and she had guarded
so carefully against it.
She was little more quiet than
! usual as she went down stairs where
her husband was waiting. He said
nothing as he followed her into the
carriage, only politely took as little
space as possible in order not to
crush her gown. 1t was his polite
ness that maddened her and tonight
it was all she could do to keep from
screaming out with it all.
She had been married six years
and in all that time, with the excep
ton of the first year, when he had
endeavored to win her love, she had
had nothing but this polite attitude
| from him.
| Now as she drove along, she blamed
herself bitterly. At 20 she had fallen
In love with a man who was already
engaged to another girl. When she
found it out she had vowed she was
| done with love, since it had cheated
her, and, at % she had married man
Is years her senior, who promised her
everything in the world If she would
marry him.
| He kept his word; her houses were
the finest, her clothes the most ele
CANT, her jewels marvels, and her hus
band, after his failure to make her
love him, the coolest, most polite man
! in New York.
But she loved her child madly. She
lived for Geoffrey. she told herself