Page:While Caroline Was Growing.djvu/124

104 up there, wasn't I? Do you think — " his voice rang harshly and he struck the table by his side till it rattled on its unsteady legs — "do you think if I couldn't look out for her, I would look out for that? Get it ready."

The woman rose, her lips pressed together, and rolled the blankets tightly about the quiet child. With one gesture she put on a shabby hat and pinned it to her hair.

"I'll leave the bottle with you," she said to Caroline; "it'll help keep him quiet, when I'm gone. Come on."

The man turned away his head as they passed him. At the outer door she paused a moment, and her face softened.

"I know how you feel, Mr. Williston, and I don't judge you," she said gently, "for the Lord knows you've had more than your share of trouble. But won't you kiss it once before — before it's too late? It's your child, you know. Don't you feel — "

"I feel one thing," he cried out, and the bitterness of his voice frightened Caroline; "I feel that it murdered her! Take it away!"