The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-05-27
wHIrMORE,s MAsTERPIEOE.

'come round to my rooms this evening.
1 have something strange to show you; /"
'What is it," / asked. Another old
Master that you have discovered, or a
new Venus that you have painted"
Neither replied Brooks, "To tell
you the truth, don't know what it is
myself, but be sure and come, and we
will together find out"
With this, he lighted cigar, and ex-
cusing himself, left the cafe, and van
ished in the crowd on the street.
That evening 1 fastened over to
Brooks suite in the Hotel de Vile.
found him reclining in an easy-chair
looking the very personlfcatlon OF COM
fort. l seated myself on lounge near
by and said, 81 am now ready, Brooks,
for anything you have to show mt"
Without replying he rose from his pri-
vate desk, unlocked it and drew from
one of its secret drawers a package care
fully done up and sealed. For moment
he stood scanning it, as if in deep and
far away thought, My curiosity was
piqued.
/ watched him in silence, but with in
| expressible eagerness.
Suddenly he turned toward me and
asked, "How long is it since you have
heard from Whitmore%
81 have his letter here" replied, and
taking it from my pocket l read aloud
its date, "March 9th, 1885,"
"That is also the date of my last let
ter" said he, coming over and sitting
down beside me, But yesterday | re-
ceived this parcel evidently from him.
Tearing off the outer wrapper, l found
this card attached to the inside"
He handed me, as he spoke, a card.
1t bore these words:
1 send you this package, believing you
with the exception of johnson, to be my
warmest, truest friend. do not chance
to know his last address. You will see
him and notify him that you are to open
the parcel on the evening of the first of
September. Yours as ever,
ERIC WHITMoRE.
As passed the card back to Brooks,
after reading it, found him regarding
me with so strange an expression that it
checked bit of pleasantly was about
to utter. AS he did not speak, too, re-
manned silent, for saw what | had been
inclined to regard as one of Whitmore's
practical Jokes, Brooks had taken seri-
ously.
During his silence my mind ran rapid
ly over my acquaintance with Whit
more.
He had been the only American at the
Institute of Art, where Brooks and had
studied, except ourselves, and naturally
there had sprung up between us three
the warmest and most lasting friend
ship.
Brooks and had been compelled to
make our own way in the world, While
Whitmore, possessing an independent
| fortune, had pursued art, not merely as
pastime, but as a passion.
study, Brooks and concluded to remain
| in Paris, but Whitmore returned to New
York, with a burning desire to do some
thing that would make his genius-for
he had more than talent, and he felt it
an establishment to his native country.
Since our separation, covering a period
of some years, he had correspondent with
Brooks and with me at regular intervals
I'D to the 9th of March, since which
time neither of us had heard anything
from him.
l was aroused from these reminis
ciences by hearing Brooks exclaim, 1.-THE
time has come, johnson. Let us opeI
the package" -,
proceeded to cut the binding and breal
the seal. 1t took him but moment tt
do this, and then, amidst silence il
which you might have heard the tradi
tional pin drop, he drew forth two sepa
rate papers and laid them on the tabl
between us.
On the back of one was written il
Whitmore's familiar chirography, ~
History to Satisfy My Friends" On tn
other was the legened, Last Will ant
Testament of Eric Whtmore."
Good God!" said l, as with tremh
ling fingers / replacedI he latter on tn
table from which had snatched it t.
make myself believe it was real. "Cal
Whitmore be dead?'
"Heaven knows" replied Brooks, hi
face as the whitest marble-"Heavel
knows. Let us read the history and Sc
if iJ will shed light on the matter"
Suiting the action to the word, he tor
it open. On the outer page were thes
words;
"T0 my friends, Brooks and johnson
in explanation of the step am about t
take. If, after reading it, you are in
clined to believe me insane, l canno
blame you, but swear to you that what
ever else may be, am not that"
By this time as you may readily imag
inc, all doubt as to the awful serious
ness of the matter had fled from m
mind, and it was with anxiety unuttera
BILE that l watched Brooks, calm an
cool as he was wont to be, was visibl
aud deeply moved, but with great sell
control he succeeded in keeping hi
voice clear and steady, as he read tn
history to the end. 1t was as follows:
''This narrative is designdd to thro7
some light on what would otherwis
) Oe an inexplicable mystery to you
, 1 feel that you two have a right to e1
poet some explanation of my strang
cor-se. For several months have bee
hard at work upol an ideal head, the OF
iein of which cannot give you unit
you have read further. From the tlrt
touch of my brush to the canvass m
mind seemed to be inspired and m
hand guided by some unseen and III
known power. Under the influence {
this unknown power l wrought day
and day out, feeling neither wearines
nor safety, and often wishing that thel
was no more night, that l might reac
! the glorious contamination the soone
Slowly my ideal grew in beauty and e.
preston. AS it neared completion,
became almost an object of worship
me. l was carried away with the fee
/ ing that the dream of my life was to
J realized. How toiled. The gray daw
daily broke upon my preparations fc
work, and the evening twilight caugf