The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-05-07
THE AMBITION OF EVA.


had been padding about London,
climbing grimy stairs OF newspaper Of
fees, and talking to people who did not
seem especially pleased TO see her.
Her skirts were wet, and a wisp of
damp hair was tumbling over her eyes.
On the hall table, disclosed by the
Pickering gasjet, were some letters.
"a year ago to-day" said Eva to her
self as she closed the door against the
wind. HAS he written, or has he for
gotten?"
He had not forgotten. Eva picked up
the letter from the hall table, looked
quickly round at the closed hall door,
the baize door that led TO the kitchen
stairs-and kissed it. Then she went
upstairs to her bed-sitting-room with
the letter in her hand and Joy in her
heart
Hateful little rooml" she murmured
to herself, as she struck a match and lit
the gas. But it's the last time, thank
Godl"
The room was not really bad; a bed
in the corner, awash-stand, a wardrobe,
here and there picture on the walls,
and table by the window, rather rick
ETY., on which lay a heap of manuscript
"a half-fnished story.
81 will burn that before go to bed
tonight" said Eva, as she caught sight
Of it.
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 form governess,
who now and then asked her favorite
pupils to tea, even said she might be a
head mistress one day. To Eva this
seemed absurd. But when, at the age
OF 90, she gained guinea prize for a
story in a weekly paper she began TO
think that at least she might be great
novelist. At any rate she felt sure that
somewhere ahead of her stretched a
career; and as her 21st birthday
approached she announced 10 her
startled parents her intention of going
to London in search of it. Thereupon
ensued a series of domestic scenes such
as have been common 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 invariably
gains its point; and so il was with Eva
Nor!ington. Having refuted argument
and resisted persuasion for a certain
number of weeks, Eva obtained a grudg-
ing consent to her departure. The
townspeople knew not whether to adj
mire or disapprove. But they had read
in novels of young ladies who took their
ives and latchkeys into their own
lands, became famous, and married re-
specially after all. So during the
weeks of preparation for her campaign
Eva became something of a figure in
local society, and more than one din
ner party was given in her honor, as
well as plentiful advice as to the neces-
sary precautions against London guile.
and many recipes for guarding against
the colds induced by the fogs that in
fest THO 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, whenever he heard that
Eva was bent on going TO London TO
make a name for herself, promptly Of
fered her his own for a substitute 1t
was good enough name. and at the
foot Of check it was generally respect
ed. as Allan Craig had lately stepped
into his fathers business as estate
agent and was prospecting. Eva was
disturbed, but she turned not aside
from her project. Eva had mapped out
her life and Allan Craig was not in
cluded in the scheme.
As she sat lingering her letter in her
bedroom, she went over the parting
scene in her mind. The details of it
would only increase the delight of the
letter. For Eva had learned during the
last year that happiness is so rare that
1t deserved to be rolled on the tongue
and not swallowed in haste. 1t was g;
o dance on the night before her de-
parture-her last dance, so she thought,
before she started life in earnest. They
were sitting out dance together, for
Eva was not disposed to think unkindly
of Allan, though she might resent his
Intrusion into her scheme of life. She
remembered 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
hings?"
zone novel and several stories"
''I cannot understand why you want
to go when"
at want lowell - to live larger
life"
'You mean you want to live in big
ger placer"
well. not exactly. 1 don't think
you quite understand"
s. ct 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
1on't love me little bit?"
Il shall be sorry to leave you-very
sorry"
Then why"