The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-10-28
A PORTRAIT
THAT GREW OLD.
. Observation-Disclosures


fOriglnai1
widowers have confessed that on
losing a beloved wife something has
t,ne out OF their lives that they must
replace at once--in ether words. they
feel impeIled to take another wife
This being impracticable. especially Of
once. they gradually become aeeustom-
ed TO their altered position. There are
others who hug their grief. with no
wish 10 replace their loss.
William whitman was one OF the lat
ter class. lie was an artist with an
artists temperament He resolved to
grow old in spiritual II not natural
companionshIp with his loved EsteIle.
Shortly before her death be had finish
ed a portrait OF her. This he placed on
an easel beside the one before which
he worked and communed with It as
II It were a thine OF life. More than
this. lest in growing old he should
leave hIs companion behind him in
youth be retouched the portrait once a
year. putting into It slightly aged ap-
pearance to correspond with bis own.
Estelle had had bosom friend. Hen
rietta Sayles. Estelle had told Hen
rietta that in case of her (Estelle'sl
death she wished her Henrietta 10
supply her place with her husband.
though she did not make a conidant in
this respect of him. Henrietta had
made no reply. Indeed. none was re-
CURED What was said was simply an
intimation.
After EstcIIe's death Henrietta was
a frequent visitor TO Whitman's studio.
She would 20 there of a morning when
be was at work and chat with him
about his wife, her friend. She seem
ed never to tire Of this, and Whitman
was glad to have her with him. In the
first place, he loved to talk about Es-
felle, and, in the second place. he could
use his brush to better advantage
while doing SO. These visits continued
for years.
Once q year on the anniversary OF
bic marriage he would retouch the por-
trait, making 1t appear slightly older.
During such times he shut himself up
with it in his studio denying himself
to every one. Even Henrietta was not
nrasent, but before the studio was re-
onened to- visitors she was admitted
mat she might pass upon the change.
N she approved, Whitman was salts
Aod: If not, he would work the portrait
aver until she considered 1t what Es-
felle would have been at that age If
she had lived.
Ana SO these three grew in age to-
rether and In constant communion. ,
Henrietta, instead Of endeavoring to
Withdraw the artists contemplation
from his wife, permitted him to con
time N it. she scrupulously refrained
from any expression Of interest In
whitman more than the husband of
her dead friend. AS for Whitman, he
,.,as too absorbed in his Idol ever to
show more than friendly interest IN
Henrietta.
Ten years passed. Whitman was
now thirty-four ana hau lew Gray
ho,rs "a his head. Henrietta was pass
M out Of young ludyhood ana about /
II IN anter maturity. The portrait repre-
sented woman with unimpaIred beau
$ one day whitman while at work
4 nr,,ntly turned to Henrietta. who was
r,tt,no near him, both. as usual, before
M nortrait. and said:
~ rave been thinking of something
.so+ ms never occurred to me before.
,ns was 60 self sacrificing. so de
' .,yss 10 my happiness 50 friendly to
- tbat / wonder IL she would not
sJs that we should find consolation
y. her bodsly loss in each other as
NE ssha intlniated us much to me be,
80 81 Che dIed. said Henrietta gravely
~ whituan looked at her long ana y
.,"nca eAnd you never told me?' he
~ - last .'well. Henrietta. II you
saaI take my friendship. leaving my
we :, FOR Estelle, be It SO
~ rssnrletta consented and on these
80 After the marriage a sneerins