Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-06-23

ana, partly by swfmruin' and partly
by clingiR' to the wall, worked my
way toward the back OF the wheel.
The hardesApiace to pass was between
the wheel dnd the wall. l expected
both of us would be crushed.
when got by that part Of it and
got Janey and myself a-hold Of the
stop the wheel; all we could do was
to cling to it till it pulled US out Of the
water and then catch hold lower down.
I did this, but Janey could only keep
changins her hands all the while as
the wheel srevolved, she bein' support
ed I'm the water. Known that this
was rionly chance, threw ell the
strength left In me into my work.
lettin' the wheel pull me almost up to
the water runnin' above, staytn' there
and lettin' go my hold first with one
hand, then with the other. But as /
was hamgin' in the air and wasn't
buoyed by water it was awful hard
work, especially after what I'd been
through. Still. there's hardly limit to
the endurance OF boy of sixteen.
IAN OF a student saw the miller
lookin' down on us. 1 didn't have to
boiler. and he didn't say a word. He
ran away, I heard the sluice close, and
in another minute he was back with
q ladder. which he, put down and, COM
In down himself. first took fancy in
his arms and carried her out He was
COMM back for me. but I let go the
wheel and swan for the ladder By
myself tried to climb up. 1t, but 1t
was no go; the miller reached down
and dragged me'out.
when I got up saw fancy 1yin'
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 to4herself purity soon. And
he was right In another moment she
opened her eyes, and, seem, me, what
do you suppose she didT'
"Whatf"
"She Just smiled the same kind OF
smile as when she was goin' down on
the wheel"
"My friend" I said at the conclu-
sion Of his story, 81 wish 1 had you
and Janey right here at the age you
then were that might work you into
my painting"
eff you'll come with me up the road
BIT I'll show you two young uns
thatn do as WELL" he replied.
went with the man, who stopped
at little house beside the road. We
entered and found a middle aged wo-
man ironing.
There's Janey," he said. Turning
to her. he added, Where are the chill
dren"
"Janey's upstairs, and 1 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 was
Janey sure enough. asked permits
sion to make a sketch OF her, and
when her brother, two years her
senior, came in / did the same with
him. Then 1 gave each u good fee
for serving as models, and after drink
ing a glass of milk which was urged
upon me 1 took my leave.
Going back to the mill, I finished
my picture under the inspiration oc-
caSloned by the story cOnDecte Win
1t. AS I worked l thought which of
the different scenes through which the
youngsters had passed I would intro
duce on the canvas. I knew that to
place Janey on the grass just recover
ing from her fainting would be eff
fective, but I rather favored putting
her on the wheel when she first step
ped on to it and smiling at her boy
companion, his own expression denot-
ing his anxiety. / decided upon the
latter feature, and, taking to my stu
dio the sketches 1 had made. work
ed them in when I felt in the mood |
for it. / succeeded far better in de- |
plotting the required expression than
I had hoped for. The picture hangs in |
my studio and has often been ad- |
mired. have had many offers for it, |
but It is the only picture 1 have ever
painted wherein there is a story 1 |
have heard at first hand. For this
reason have never been willing to
part with it.