Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-11-28
A PORTRAIT
THAT GREW OLD.
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N"oNctS nave confessed mat OIL
losing beloved wife something has
gone out Of their lives that they must
replace at once-in other words, they
feel impelled to take another wife.
This being impractlcahlo. especially at
once. they gradually become accustom
cd 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 clnss. He was an artist, with nm
artists temperament. lie resolved to
grow old In spiritual IL not natural
companionshlp with his loved Estelle
Shortly before her death he had finish.
ed portrait OF her. This he plncnd on
an easel beside the one before which
lie worked and cominuned with 1t as
If 1t were thing of life. More than
this. lest in growing old he should
leave his companion behind him in
youth lie retouchcd the portrait once n
yenr. putting into 1t II slightly aged ap
pearancc 10 correspond with his own.
Estcllc had had bosom friend. Hen
rietta Sayles. Estellc had told Hen
riettn that In case of her (Estele's)
death she wished her (IIcnrlcttW to
supply her placc with her husband.
though she did not make confdant III
this respect OF him. Henrietta Ind
made no reply. Indeed. none was re-
qulrcd. What WIS snid was simply an
lntiinntion.
After Estelle's death Henrietta was
frequent visitor to Whtman's studio.
She would go there of a morning when
lie was Mt 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, lie loved to talk about Es-
tclle, and. in the second place. lie could
use his brush To better advantage
willie doing SO. These visits continued
for years.
Once year OH the anniversary OF
his marriage he would retouch the por.
trait, making 1t appear slightly older.
During such times he shut himself up
with 1t In his studio denying himself
Ia every ono. Even Henrietta was not
present. but before the studio was re-
opened to visitors she was admitted
that she might pass upon the cnangc.
III she approved. Whitman was salts
fed; IL not, lie would work the portrait
over until she considered it what Es-
tcllc would have been nj that age IL
she had lived.
And SO these three grew In age to-
getIcr aud IN constant communion.
Henrietta. instead OF endcayoring to
withdraw the artists contemplation
from hin wife. permitted him to con.
tinue In IT, She rcrupulously rcfralned
from my expression OF interest in
Whitman more than the husband OF
her dcad friend. AS for Whitman, he
was too absorbed in his Idol ever TO
show more tllan friendly interest In
Henrietta.
Ten years passed. Whitman was
now thirty-four and Ind few gray
hairs in his head. Henrietta was pass
ing out Of young ladyhood and about
to enter maturity. The portrait repre-
sented q woman with unimpaired beau
ty. One day Whitman while Mt work
abruptly turned TO Henrietta. who was
sitting near him. both. as usual. before
the portrait. and said:
~ have been thinking of something
that has never occurred 10 me before.
Estellc wqs 50 self sacrificing, so dc.
voted 10 my happiness. so friendly to
You, that wonder IL She would not
wish that we should find consolation
hnr tfr tn Nth
man and wife"
"She intimatcd as much TO ne be-
fore she died. said Henrietta grnvcly.
Whitman ioolied at her long and in
silence. And you never told me?' he
said ut Inst. well. Henrietta, IL you
VIII take my friendship. leaving my
love for. Estellc. be 1t So"
Henrietta consented and OH these
terms. After the marriage n sncering
remark of one who had seen husband
and wife in the studio gazing at Els
tcllc's picture ws- repeated to Whit
man. The porisa,i was removed and
never again Introduced into the studio
Another ten years passed. The TWEEN
ueth anniversary OF Whitman's first
marriage came round. lie had long
before committed the portrait 10 his
second wife with instructions TO put
IL away. Now she proposed that 10.
gcther they should go and visit 1t.
Whitman manifested disiuclinatiop
to do so.
Why asked Henrietta.
II have come TO believe that my pro
longed communion or fancied commun-
ion with Esteilc through hcr portrait.
my changing II TO preserve her likeness
az she would have been lad she grown
Old In The flesh. was an abnormal con-
dition. should have married you
long before did instead OF waiting
ten years and ihcn asking you to
accent my fricndchfn nc n husband