The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1911-06-30

break In the old wall surroundin' the
wheel that left one Of the stones so
we could git our hands on 1t. push
ed Off with Janey, and we chung to the
stone.
I'VE got kind of a rest, but 1t wasn't
pleasant being in water over our heads
keepin' ourselves up that way, and
Janey's teeth began to chatter. l was
beside myself with terror for her. II
was she who was putin the best face
on it all. sayin' that the grist would
soon give out and the water would be
turned of. But knew that her
strength was goin', and dreaded
time when 1t would leave her all at
once.
"Then / tried hollerin' ag'in, but
hadn't as much power behind my voice
as l had when l called before and
couldn't make as much noise.
II knew I'd got to do somep'n or
purity soon 1t would be all over with us.
1t occurred to me that IL could get
my weight ON to the side of the wheel
that was goin' up the motion wouldl
be slower. asked Janey II she could
hold on where she was for awhile.
She said she could. but l knew she
couldn't.
II had to put my arm around her,
and, partly by swimmin' and partly
by clingin' to the wall. worked my
way toward the back OF the wheel.
The hardest place to pass was between
the wheel and the wall. expected
both of us would be crushed.
when I got by that part Of 1t and
got Janey and myself ahold of the
wheel l felt better. But we couldn't
stop the wheel; all we could do was
to cling to 1t till II pulled us out Of the
water and then catch hold lower down.
did this, but Janey could only keep
changin' her hands all the while as
the wheel revolved. she bein' support
ed In the water. Known that this
was our only chance, l threw all the
strength left in me into my work,
lettin' the wheel pull me almost up to
the water runnin' above. stayin' there
and lettin' go my hold first with one
hand, then with the other. But as l
was hangin' In the air and wasn't
buoyed by water 1t was awful hard
work. especially after what I'd been
through. Still. there's hardly a limit to
the endurance Of boy of sixteen.
"All of student l saw the miller
lookin' down on us. / didn't have to
holler. and he didn't say word. He
ran away, heard the sluice close, and
In another minute he was back with
a ladder, which he put down and, COM
in down himself, first took Janey In
his arms and carried her out. He was
comm back for me- but | let so 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 got up saw Janey lynn
on the grass with her eyes closed. limp
and white as a cloth. Thinkin' she
was dead, gave cry and, bendin'
down over her, lifted her In my arms
The miller said she'd only tainted and
would come to herself purity soon. And
he was right. In another moment she
opened her eyes, and. seem me, what
do you suppose she did?"
"WhatT
"She just smiled the same kind Of
smile as when she was goin' down on
the wheel"
my friend" l said Mt the conclu-
sion of his story, Il wish 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
thatll do as WE'LL" 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
drenT
"Janey's upstairs. and | sent Dick
to the store. He'll be back In few
minutes"
A girl about fifteen came down at
her mothers call. and there was
Janey sure enough asked permits
sion to make sketch of her. and
when her brother. two years her
senior. came IN l did the same with
him. Then gave each good fee
for serving as models. and after drink
ing a glass of milk which was urged
upon me | took my leave.
Going back to the mill. ! finished
my picture under the inspiration oc-
casioned by the story connected with
II. AS worked | thought which of
the different scenes through which the
youngsters had passed would intro
duce on the canvas. | knew that to
place Janey on the grass Just recover
ing from her fainting would be eff
fective, but l rather favored putting
her on the wheel when she first step
ped on to 1t and smiling at her boy
companion. his own expression denot-
ing his anxiety | decided upon the
latter feature. and. taking to my stu
do the sketches had made, l work
ed them in when felt in the mood
for 1t. I 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 1t,
but 1t Is the only picture ! have ever
painted wherein there is story
have heard at first hand For this
reason / have never been willing to
part with 1t.