Kristy's Rainy Day Picnic — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Kristy's Rainy Day Picnic
John Stuart Mill · en
They had made some sort of a path through the drifts as they came, and
though little signs of it were left, there was enough to guide these
hardy men used to such storms. Every man took his child in his arms
and all started out, Miss Grey under the care of her faithful Harry.
At first she clung to his arm, but the snow was everywhere; it filled
her eyes and took away her breath, the wind blew her skirts and
impeded her steps, and in her state of nervous exhaustion she was very
soon overcome. A dull stupor came over her, and, letting go her hold
on the arm of her protector, she sank down into the snow unconscious.
From that state she would never have roused but for the efforts of
Harry. There was not a moment to lose; the rest of the party were
almost out of sight, and to lose them would be to be without a guide
in this wilderness of snow.
It was no time for ceremony. With a hasty "You must excuse me, then,"
Harry took her light form up in his arms and trudged on as well as he
could, striving only to keep the men in sight.
When, after efforts that tried his strength to its limits, he reached
the farmhouse where Miss Grey boarded, he staggered up the steps,
burst open the door, and almost fell on the floor with his unconscious
burden.
The family rushed to his aid; took Miss Grey's limp form, laid it on
a lounge, and some set to work to restore her, while others helped
Harry to free himself from snow and thaw himself out.
When, after some time, Miss Grey was fully recovered, and both she and
Harry had eaten a very welcome breakfast, he rose to go to his own
home not far away, she rose, too, and said earnestly:--
"Harry, I don't know what to say! I believe you have saved my
life--what can I say--what can I ever do"--
"Promise that you won't give up the school and go away!" burst eagerly
from Harry's lips.
"Do you really care so much to have me stay?" she asked, somewhat
surprised, for she had sometimes been obliged to assert her authority
very sternly.
"Yes, I do!" he said, bluntly. "I--I"--he went on embarrassed, "I've
been a donkey and given you trouble--I'd like to kick myself--but
you're a brick and I'll behave myself--if you'll stay."
"I will," said Miss Grey cordially, "and I depend on you to be the
help you were last night. I might never"--here she broke down.
"You'll see," said Harry bluntly, as he opened the door to go.