The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1892-06-02
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ABSOLUTELY PURE
ABSOLUTELY PURE


something strange TO sbow you
What is IN / 4sked. Another old mas
ter tbs, you have discovered. or . neS 'e'
Gus that you have painted.
Neither, replied Brooks. To tell you
the ,ruth. | don't know what ., is myself,
but be sure aud come, and We VIII toee'h
er endesvor to fud ont.
With this be lighted cigar. and eicu'
sing himself. left the cafe and vanished 10
the crowd upon the street,
That evening | FASTENED over 70 Brooks
suite 10 the Hotel de Vile. i found him
reclining 10 40 easy chair looking the
very personihcs,ion OF comfort. ! seated
myself on lounge near by and said, ! am
now ready, Brooks. for anything you have
to show me.
Wi,bou, reply he rose from bis prlva'e
desk, unlocked il and drew from one OF Its
secret drawers a package carefully done
up aud sealed. For moment he stood
scanning II as il in deep and far away
thought Ny curiosity was piqued.
watched him 10 silence. but with mex
pressible eagerness.
Suddenly be turned toward me aud
asked. How long is it since you heard from
Whitmore?
have his letter, replied, and taking
IA f,om NV poeket | read aloud it's date,
Msrcb 6. 1889
That is also the date Of my last letter,
said he. coming over aud sitting down be-
aide me. But yesterday | received this
parcel evidently from him. Tearing OF
the outer wrapper, found this card at
tached to the inside.
He handed me, rs be spoke, q card. i
bore these words
send you this package. believing you
with the exception OF johnson. to be my
wsrmest. truest friend. do not chance
TO know his last address. You will se'
him and notify him that you are to opel
the parcel on the evening OF the fret o
September.
Yours ss ever,
ERIC WHITMoRE.
As | passed the card back to Brooks
after reading II, found him regarding m
with so strange an expression that b
checked bit Of pleasantly was about
ut,er. As be did not speak, l too remain
! ed silent, for saw what | had been IN
cliped to regard as one Of Wbitmore
practical jokes, Brooks had taken 1t ser
ously.
l. During bis silence my mind ran rapldl
!. over my Acquaintance with Whitmore
He had been the only American ct u
Institute Of Art. where Brooks and l hs
l. studied, except ourselves and naturAll
!. there had sprung up between us three Il
). vsrmest and most lasting friendship
Brooks sni l had been compelled
make our own way in the world, viii
Wbi,more, possessing an independent 10
u tune. had pursued art. not merely as
Y psstime. but % passion.
At the termination OF our course oi 81
- DIV. Brooks and / concluded to stay
iy Paris. but Whitmore returned to M
=, ~ York with burning desire to do sonnet
or inc that would make his geDins-ior
II had more than talent and heaielt IT.
- sstop,sbment TO his native country. BID
our separation, covering q period OF SOL
wears. he had correspopded with Broo
and with me at regular intervals up to
sixth OF March, since which time we b
neither OF us heard anything from him
" Iwss sroused from these r'mini cent
nd by hearing Brooks exclsim. The time
rec come. johnson. Let Us open the pscks
. All right said end forthwith be y
~ ceeded 10 cut the binding and break
seal. II took him but moment to do !
~ and then. amidst silence 10 which
might have heard the traditional pm Or
he drew forth two sepsrA,e papers and
them on the table between us.
On the back OF one WAS written 10 WI
Il, more's familiar chirosrsphy, A History
Satisfy My Friends On the other
- the lesened, Las. Will and Testament
Eric Whitmore.
~ Good Godl ssid l, as with trembi
~ fingers l replaced the latter on the u
from which l had sustched IL to make
.eli believe |, vas real Can Whi'mor'
desdf
- Heaven knows. replied Brooks, his
as the whitest marble = Heaven kno
lie, MS read the history and see II II
no, sbed light upon the matter
suitiue the sciiop to the word he
n opep. On the outer page we're y
words:
Ia nv friends, Brooks spd John
KS this ia written 10 explanation OF the
,biob Am about TO take. II after
,. ius II. you are inclined to believe m'
sane. | cannot blame You, bnt s~e'
Won tbs. xhstever else ] may be, an
,rds that
By this time s you msy reAoiiy
ssine, all doub, - 10 ss'u' ser
meas Of the matter bad fed from Giy
and !, uss With anxiety unut,ersble q
v.,chea Brooks. ss be turned psg'
prepsred 10 resd the manuscript
.,v Brooks, calm and cool ss be "ss uo
al BE-. vi. visibly spd deeply moved
~i,h sres, self control be succeeds
s.ep,ns bi. voice clear snd steady.
:. read the history 70 The end, IL
ioiiovs.
This narrative IL designed to throw