Her hair hung in wavy dishevelment about her head
and shoulders, and she clung passionately to the child in her arms.
The Scotch Preacher had said, "Well--Anna?" She looked up and replied:
"They were going to take my baby away."
"Were they!" exclaimed McAlway in his hearty voice. "Well, we'll never
permit _that_. Who's got a better right to the baby than you, I'd like
to know?"
Without turning her head, the tears came to her eyes and rolled
unheeded down her face.
* * * * *
"Yes, sir, Dr. McAlway," the man said, "I was coming across the bridge
with the cows when I see her standing there in the water, her skirts all
floating around her. She was hugging the baby up to her face and saying
over and over, just like this: 'I don't dare! Oh, I don't dare! But I
must. I must,' She was sort of singin' the words: 'I don't dare, I don't
dare, but I must.' I jumped the railing and run down to the bank of the
river. And I says, 'Come right out o' there'; and she turned and come
out just as gentle as a child, and I brought her up here to the house."
* * * * *
It seemed perfectly natural at this time that I should take the girl and
her child home to Harriet.
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