The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-07-07

mill for less than two or three hours'
! grind.
; fancy stood up well for about half
an hour-it seemed four times 40 long
then she began to give out. The
only thing I could do with her was to
brace her up by putin my arm back
Of her. She didn't seem frightened or
ready to cry, but she looked at me with
q tired smile and kept on workin' the
treadmill.
But purity soon she got so tired
I knew she'd have to git a rest, and l
looked about for somep'n to cling to
away from the wheel. There was a
break in the old wall surroundin' the
wheel that left one Of the stones SO
we could git hands on It. I push
ed OF with Janey, and we chung to the
stone.
I'VE got a kind Of a rest, but It wasn't
pleasant being in water e our heads
keepin' ourselves up that way. and
Janey's teeth began to chatter. I was
beside myself with terror for her. It
was she who was putin the best face
on It al, sayin' that the srist would
soon give out and the water would be
turned Cd. But l knew that her
strength was soin', and I dreaded a
time when It would leave her an at
once. @ =
'Then I tried hollerin' as'in. but I
hadn't as much power behind my voice
as l had when 1 called before and
couldn't make as much noise.
II knew Id got to do somep'n or
purity soon 1t would be oil over with us.
It occurred to me that IL I could get
my weight on to the side Of the wheel
that was goln' up the motion would
be slower. l asked Janey Il she could
hold on where she was for awhile.
She said she could. but I knew she
couldn't.
II had to put my arm around her,
and, partly by swimmin' and partly
by clingin' to the wall. I worked my
way toward the back Of the wheel.
The hardest place to pass was between
the wheel and the wall. l expected
both of us would be- crushed.
"When ] got by that part of 1t ard
got .Janey and myself a-hold Of the
wheel l felt better. But we couldn't
stop the wheel; all we could do vas
to cling to it till it pulled US nut of ne
water and then catch hold lower down.
I did this, but Janes could only k-,p
changin' her hands all the while rs
the wheel revolved, she bein' support
ed in the water. Known that this
was u only chance. l threw all ;ae
strength left in me into my wo.S.
lettin' the wheel pull me almost ul' to
the water runnin' above. stayin' til, re
and lettin' go my hold first with o.,e
hand. then with the other. But as !
was hangin' in the air and wasn't
huoyed by water it was awful hard
work, especially after what I'D been
through. Still. there's hardly a limit to
the endurance of a boy Of sixteen.
"All Of a student I saw the miller
lookin' down on us. l didn't have to
boiler. and he didn't say a word. EIe
ran away, heard the sluice close, and
in another minute he vas back with
a ladder. which heNput down and, COM
In down himself. first took Janey in
his arms and carried her out. He was
comm back for me, but I let 60 the
wheel and swan for the ladder by
myself. l tried to climb up 1t, but it
a no so; the miller reached down
and dragged me out. .
"When ! got up l saw Janey lynn
on the grass with her eyes closed, limp
and white as a cloth. Thinkin' she
was dead. gave a cry and, bendin'
down over her, lifted her in my arms.
The miller said she'd only tainted and
would come to herself purity oon And
he was right. In another moment she
opened her eyes. and, SEEM me. what
do you suppose she did,"
"What7"
"'She just smiled the same kind Of q
smile us when she was goin' down on
the wheel"
my friend" said at the conclu-
sion Of his story. Il wish I had you
and Janey right here at the age You
then were that l might work you into
my painting"
.If you'll come with me up the road
a bit I'll show you two young uns
that'll do as WE'LL" he replied.
went with the man, who stopped
at a little house beside the road. We
entered and found q middle aged wo-
man ironing.
There's Janey." he said. Turning
to her. he added. where are the chill
dren?"" .
":Janey's upstairs, and I sent Dick
to the store. He'll be back In a few
minutes"
A girl about fifteen came down at
her mothers call, and there a
Janey. sure! enough. I asked permits
sion to make q sketch Of her, and
when her brother, two years her
senior; came in 1 did the same with
49, -