The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1920-11-04
True Merit
By CEClLLE

There vas nothing that Eltis Bor1sll
would not do FOR The half of
young ladie, WHO comprised = group
to whom Rosiyn faber hHd intro
duo.d him Ellis WAS m Instantaneous
success with the girls No one under
stood that he possessed a fortune or
was a. yet fully settled ia q business
way but his father had sotne means
and 81 this FIRST little journey Of his
sou our into the social world lid ap
parently provided for his enjoyment
OF the same literally.
1t Is almost 4 sin 10 encourage
him. said Elsa Woods. You know ard
myself and the rest 81 our group that
he IL simply y stray wanderer into our
circle whom " must forget before
the ea>on IS over
why should tha, be-" challenged
Myra Warden. III he is good enough
10 invite to our homes and introduce
TO our friends. why il be not eligible
for full recognition ~ any time
Don't be heroic. Myra. as you alone
Of all Of Us with your wealth and pres.
tige can afford to be II YOU 81 elect.
Do you think Mr.. Bortell would pass
muster at the grand reception and
other high social functions down at
Wadham's beach2r
Mr.. Bortell simply lacks knowing
the ways Of the artificial life we lead,
Insisted Nyra. "TIe j. a trifie crude |
will admit. but a thorough gentleman
in every sense of the word. The girls
find him inclined TO spend money free
~ and lac is really = royal entertainer,
but is it right 10 encourage him in
spendthrift waySi The last j Of
you. 20 be plain. will drop him the
minute his bank roll gives out, ~ the
saying is"
you talk as though we were a set
Of girl piratest" Indignantly retorted
Elsa.
Well. don't lead the poor, artlcss
fellow to believe thar any Of you are
In love with him. He is a good deal
OF a man, despite his rare delight at
being noticed and taken up by you
pretty girls"
And your insinuated Elsa, but
Myra shrugged her shoulders careless
~, 4 slight flush on her delicate fea-
lures. however.
Somehow Ellis had been more
reticent with Myra than with the 9th.
ers, probably due 20 her prestige Of
wealth and position.
Elsa Woods laughed 10 herself
when Ellis Bortell announced thai be
Intended 10 round out a month of the
most substantial pleasure Of his life
by taking a week at Nadham's beach.
II was there that the girls paired OF
with more chosen friends aud lovers,
and Ellis found himself somewhat neg
lected. but he was always willing u
loyal to contribute In a free money way
TO what was going on, and the wise
and worldly mes allowed him TO join
their circle. merely as a hanger IN,
as Elsa cruelty expressed il.
Miss Warden was neither engaged
nor very partial 10 the opposite sex
and she and Ellis often met. and the
sterling worth OF this as yet unin
TDTintl ilHfilDfF vi FbtittN NhN uhllN |
more and more recognized by her.
There were elements Of candor and
good impulse in the young man that
attracted her. She refused TO allow
him TO spend his money In automobile
rides and expensive dinners, however,
and warded off the exactions OF her
self-seeking girl friends whenever
possible.
There was a picnic TO an outlying
island one day and Ellis was p%articu-
larly happy to be chosen as the special
escort Of Miss Warden. They re-
manned until after dusk, n~otwithstand-
ing the fact that a storm had lowered
on the horizon for some hours.
we had better start for home"
Ellis, who was considerable Of a
weather prognosticator, had told the
others several times, hut his suggest
ton was not followed until after the
wind had arisen and IL had begun TO
rain. They neared the mainland with
the frail yacht a mere plaything at the
caparice of the tempest. Ellis was the
only one among the young men who
seemed capable Of managing the craft.
The boat is past control y he
shouted finally. The rudder has
broken and we must take 10 he surf"
Ellis seized Myra and sprang over
board as the craft capsized.
II was with difficulty that he brought
her ashore. Faint. weak. exhausted a.
she was, he placed Myra beyond the
reach of the waves. tore of his coat
and dashed back into the roaring
surf.
Precious lives were at hazard and
the frightened escorts Of the girls lost
both courage and manhood il would
seem FOR Ellis had the rescue ~ the /
shrieking -half-drowned girls al %
himself. when the last one 81 them
had been brought safely ashore there
was not one Of them who did no, have
the brave, bold Ellis 70 thank that they
were alive.
u was after thai Wheg Miss Warden
IA. 49, fH.v sr.sr uffh Eha QarU. Il