Brahms Ballade Op. 10 no. 4

[cdales]

Greetings--after having this wonderful piece on the "Future Projects" list for lo these many years, I'm finally getting around to it. I'd like to tap the collective wisdom regarding the performance of the return of the opening A theme (Tempo 1 - 5th page of most editions). The five legato descending arpeggiated 8th notes that originally accompanied the melody in each opening bar have morphed into a pair of 16ths followed by four 8th notes with dots above them, giving the accompaniment in the return of this theme a "bubbly" effect.
Here's my question: my Henle edition shows dots atop the 8th notes in only the first three measures of this section, returning to ordinary notation for the remainder of this section of the piece. There's no Simile, or any other indication that this gentle staccato or portamento should continue. Recordings are all over the map--some performers (e.g. Gilels) carry the style throughout the section, while others revert to legato where the markings stop, letting the 16th notes achieve the lightheartedness I'm leaning to the 2nd approach, but I wonder which interpretation Brahms intended ??