Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-07-23
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TOO GOOD !
TO KEEP !
A Story Of Intentions
Turned Awry.
BY EUNICE BLAKE

Edgar Beverly, from the time he
was born, was all boy. There was alb
solutely nothing feminine about him.
When he was three years old doting
aunt presented him with a doll His
father was not in sympathy with this
gift, averring that dolls were exclu-
sively for girls. But the aunt insisted
that boys, as well as girls. in their In
fancy played with dolls. So doll
was provided, with china head, fax.
en- locks and pair of beautiful blue
eyes. Edgar accepted 1t, but showed
lack OF intelligence as to what 1t was
for. Ten minutes after 1t had been
given him he took 1t by the ankles
and brought the head down on a stone
step, scattering fragments Of the china
head over the garden walk
When Edgar was ten years old he
lost his mother and was turned over to
bachelor uncle Of thirty. Robert
Coolidge. the uncle, had been wild
fellow and was just beginning to re-
aliZe the chances he had taken and the
oats. He had barely escaped losing at
the gaming table fortune he had in.
herited and had just In time put a
check on himself in too close associa-
ton with the bottle He had madly
loved three different women, any one
of whom, If he had married her, would
have wrecked his life
When Robert Coolidge assumed the
care Of his little nephew he had be-
come fully aware Of his own imperfec-
tons and realized by what narrow
margin on many occasions he had es-
capped calamity. His experiences with
the women he had loved, or thought
he loved, had caused him to believe
that he was very poor judge between
good and bad women. Nevertheless he
considered matrimony, the wife being
good woman, rs n sheet anchor for
men. Having convinced himself of his
own inability to discover the good or
the bad In woman, and being horri-
fed at the mistakes he had made he
eschewed matrlmony for himself, while
he advocated It for others.
For these reasons he determined that
Edgar Beverly should be brought up
very carefully, that some woman, who
knew her own sex perfectly, should Sc
lect wife for the boy and that he
should marry the girl selected, whether
he loved her or not, when he came to
manhood. lie would bring the boy up
to consider him more as companion
than an uncle, and In this way would
be the better able to shield him from
the dangers through which he himself
had passed
When Edgar came to be eighteen
years old he displayed the same pro-
clivities his uncle had displayed In his
youth. He was not bad, but reckless.
He was very generous, and when his
own interests came In collision with
those Of any one weaker than himself
he would invariably give way. He
did not conceal what he was doing
from his uncle, and Coolidge had every
advantage Ia guiding him, having from
the first invited his confidence.
But 1t IL one thing to have an ad-
vantage and another to attain success.
Edgar benefited by the advice OF his
uncle 30 fur as to escape certain pit
falls but the trend OF his disposition
could not be turned. He had inherit
ed the Same wild oats fever az his uncle
and 1t must run Its course.
For several years the uncle was In
constant state Of anxiety with regard
., 10 fn r.Nn
tiOnshlp between them that Coolidge
knew exactly what Beverly was doing.
Finally he determined to make an ef-
fort to put In practice the expedient
he had intended from the time when
Edgar had come to him as little boy.
He would try to marry him to some
good girl.
But, since he had failed TO manage
his own affairs In this respect, he did
not see how he would have better sue
cess IN managing those OF his nephew.
He determined TO consult the wife OF
n friend Of his, Mrs. Jernegan. The
lady heard his story and promised TO
think the matter over. Matchmaking,
she said was a risky and thankless
task. In the case OF a young man in
clined TO be wild It was very difficult.
However, she would try TO think Of
some young woman Of good sense.
good character and amiable disposi-
tlOn for the purpose.
Mrs. Jernegan was herself a woman
possessing what Is commonly called
horse sense. She did not especially
relish advising any girl 10 marry man
for the purpose OF reforming him. He
might make an excellent husband after
being reformed, but suppose the ref
OrmatiOn never took place? Mr.. Cool
edge had passed safely through the
danger period OF mans life and had
arrived at an age wherein he saw those
dangers in their true light. The fas-
cinatiOn OF danger inherent In manly
man had passed and left him splen-
did fellow. But that was no reason
why his nephew could run the Same
course and escape ruin.
These were some OF the thoughts
that passed through Mrs. Jernegan's
mind before she acted upon Mr.. Cool
edges request. Then when sine had
the matter all thought out she sent for
a young lady friend OF hers, Miss Lau-
ra Dudley, and the two had long con