The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-05-22

Wlnuy, rainy cNcHinS, anu WV ''""N
lunch she had been padding about London,
climbing grimy stairs OF newspaper Offices
and talking to people who did not seem
especially pleased to see her. Her skirts
were wet, and a whisp of damp hair was
tumbling over her eyes. On the hall table,
disclosed by the Pickering gas jet, were
some letters.
"a year ago today" said Eva to herself,
as she closed the door against the wind.
elias he written or has he forgotten?'
He had not forgotten. Eva picked up
the letter from the hall table looked
quickly around at the closed hall door, at
the closed dining-room door, and at the
baize door that led to the kitchen stairs
and kissed it. Then she went upstairs to
her bed. stting room with the letter in her
hand and Joy in her heart.
''Hateful little roomw she murmured to
herself, as she struck match and lit the
gas "But its the last time, thank God!'
The room was not really bad; bed in
the corner, a washstand, wardrobe, here
and there picture on the walls, and
table by the window, rather rickety, on
which lay Il heap of manuscript--a half
finished story.
Eva Norrington had been the pride of
the provincial town which gave her BIRTH
At the High School no girl could stand
against her. Her former governess, who
now and then asked her favorite pupils to
tea, even said she might be head-mistress
one day. TO Eva this seemed absurd. But
when, at the aye OF twenty, she gained a
guinea prize for story in weekly paper,
she begun to thnl; that at least she might
be great novelist. At any rate she felt
sure that somewhere ahead of her stretched
her career; and as her twenty-lirst birthday
approached she announced to her startled
parents her intention of going to London
in search Of it. Thereupon ensued series
of domestic scenes such as have been COM
mon of late in the homes of England,
wherein the parents play the part OF the
apprehensive hen, the daughter that of the
adventurous duckling. The duckling in
varably gains its point: and so it was with
Eva Norrington. Having refuted argument
and resisted persuasion for a certain num-
Der of weeks, Eva obtained grudging con-
sent to her departure. The town people
knew not whether to admire or disapprove.
But they read in novels of young ladies
who took their lives and latch keys into
their own hands, became famous, and mar
ried respectfully after all. SO during the
weeks OF preparation for her campaign,
Eva became something of a figure in local
society, and more than one dinner-party
was given in her honor, as we'll as plentiful
advice as to the necessary precautions
against Loudon guile, and many recipes for
guarding against colds induced by the fogs
that infest the metropolis.
Eva was almost happy; for she had the
hopefulness of youth and beauty, and all
the exhilaration of taking her life into her
hands and fashioning it as she would, with
none to raise objections to the process. She
would have been quite happy but for Allan
Craig. For Allan Craig, when he heard
that Eva was bent on going to London to
make name for herself, promptly offered
her his own for substitute 1t was good
enough name, and at the foot of a check it
was generally respected, as Allan Craig had
lately stepped into his fathers business as
estate agent and was prospering. Eva was
disturbed, but she turned not aside from
her project. Eva had mapped out ier life
and Allan Craig was not included in the
scheme.
AS she sat lingering her letter III her bed
room, she went over the parting scene in
her mind The details OF it would only
increase the delights of the letter. For
Eva had learned during the past year that
happiness is SO rare that it deserves to be
rolled ON the tongue and not swallowed in
haste. 1t was at dance on the night be-
fore her departure her last dance, so she
thought, before she started life in earnest.
They We're sitting out a dance together, for
Iva was not disposed to think unkindly Of
Allan, though she might resent his intru
sion into her scheme of life. She remem-
bered how there had been silence between
them for some moments, how Allan had
leaned his elbows on his knees and dug the
heel of his dancing shoe into the carpet.
"And SO you are quite determined to
leave us?" said Allan.
''Of course replied Eva. "My boxes
are all packed
"Full of manuscript novels and other
things?'
Gone novel and several stories"
81 can not understand why you want to
so when
81 want to-well-to live q larger life. "
'You mean you want to live in bigger
place."
"Weil, not exactly. l don't think you
quite understand"
81 quite understand that there is not
enough scope for you here, and that am
selfish brute for trying to keep you from
your ambition. Look here, Eva, can you
honestly say that you do not love me
/