Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-01-06
A PORTRAIT
THAT GREW OLD.
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Widowers have confessed that on
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 impracticable. especially at
once. they gradually become accustom-
ed to their altered position. There are
others who hug their grief, with no
wish to replace their loss.
William whitman was one of the lat
ter class He WIS an artist. with an
artists temperament. He resolved to
grow old in spiritual II not natural
companionship with his loved Estelle.
Shortly before her death he had finish
ed portrait OF her. This he placed on
an easel beside the one before which
he worked and communed with 1t as
If it were a thing of life. More than
this. lest in growing old he should
leave his companion behind him in
youth he retouched the portrait once a
year. putting into 1t 4 slightly aged ap-
pearance to correspond with his own.
Estelle had had bosom friend. Hen
rietta Sayles. Estelle had told Hen
rietta that in case Of her (Estelle's,
death she wished her CHenrietta) to
supply her place with her husband.
though she did not make confidant in
this respect Of him. Henrietta had
made no reply. Indeed. none was re-
quired. What was said was simply an
intimation.
After Estelle's death Henrietta was
a frequent visitor to Whitman's studio.
She would go there Of a morning when
he 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-
teile. and. in the second place. he could
use his brush to better advantage
while doing So These visits continued
for years.
Once a year on the anniversary of
his marriage he would retouch the. por-
trait. making it appear slightly older.
During such times he shut himself up
with it in his studio. denying himself
to every one. Even Henrietta was not
present. but before the studio was re
opened to visitors she was admitted
that she might pass upon the change
If she approved. Whitman was salts
fed; if rot, he would work the portrait
over until she considered 1t what Es-
telle would have been at that age II
she had lived.
And so these three grew In age to-
gether and in constant communion.
Henrietta, instead Of endeavoring to
withdraw the artists contemplation
from his wife, permitted him to con
tinue in it. She scrupulously refrained
from any expression Of interest in
Whitman more than the husband of
her dead friend. AS for Whitman. he
was too absorbed in his idol ever TO
show more than a friendly interest In
Henrietta.
Ten years passed. Whitman was
now thirty-four and had few gray
hairs in his head. Henrietta was pass
ing out of young ladyhood and about
to enter maturity. The portrait repre-
sented woman with unimpaired beau
ty. One day Whitman while at work
abruptly turned to Henrietta, who was
sitting near him. both, as usual. before
the portrait, and said: -
II have been thinking of sp-r1 ri
that sas"s'efsi OF sne knsySihhethins
ID, TN--stco rud .Ie-
, ~, .ever occurred to me Defore. Il
telle was so self sacrificing. so de- o
ted to my happiness, so friendly to
u, that wonder II she would not Ell