Evening journal., 1897-05-13
THE AMBITION OF EVA.

Eva Norrington inserted her latch
key into the keyhole of a Bedford
Square boarding house, and entered.
It was a dismal, windy, rainy Novem-
Der evening, and ever since lunch she |
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 q wisp of |
damp hair was tumbling over her eyes. |
On the hall table, disclosed by the |
fliclSering gasjet, were some letters.
~ year ago to-dayl" 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,
at the closed dining-room door, and at
the baize door that led 10 the kitchen
stairs-and kissed it. Then she won't
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; bed
in the corner, awash-stand, wardrobe,
here and there a picture on the walls,
and a table by the window, rather rick
ETY., on which lay hegp of manuscript
a half-fnished story.
II win burn that before ! go to bed
tonight" said Eva, as she caught sight
Of II.
Eva Norrington had been tho 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 ten, even said she might be q
head mistress one day. To Eva this
seemed absurd. But whom. ut the age
Of 20, she gained a guinea prize for Q
story In a weekly paper she began TO
think that ut least she might be great
novelist. At any rate she felt sure that
somewhere ahead of her stretched a
career; and as her 2tst birthday
approached she announced 10 her
startled parents her intentiAl Of going
to London in search OF it. Thereupon
rnsued series of domestic scenes such
as have been common of late in the
| homes Of England, wherein the parents
! play the part of the apprehensiye hen.
the daughter that of the adventurous
duci1ling. The duclxling invariably
gains its point; and so it was with Eva
Norington. Having refuted argument
and resisted persuasion for certain
number of weeks, Eva obtained grsdg-
ing consent TO her departure. The
townspeople knew not whether to adj
mlre or disapprovo. But they had read
in novels of young ladies' who took their
lives and latchbeys into their own
: hands, became famous, and married re-
specially after all So during tho
weeks of preparation for her campaign
Eva became something Of a figure in
E local society, and moro than one din
Y ner party was given in her honor, a.
well as plentiful advice as to the neces
sary precautions against London guile
( and many recipes for guarding against
P tho colds induced by the fogs that in
fest the metropolis.
Eva was almost happy; for she haC
the hopefulness Of youth and beauty
and all the exhilaration of taking hel
= life into her hands and fashioning it as
she would, with none to raise objections
to the process. She would have beer
( quite happy but for Allan Craig. Fo
= Allan Craig, whenever he heard thn
n Eva was bent on going to London L
make name for herself, promptly of
. fered her his own for a substitute. I
4 was good enough name, and at tn
n foot Of a check it was generally respect
; ed, as Allan Craig had lately steppe'
J. | into his fathers business as estat
agent and was prospering- Eva wa
% disturbed, but she turned not asd
n from her project. Eva had mapped on
e her lifo and Allan Craig was not in
,, cluded in the scheme.
= As she sat lingering her letter in he
bedroom, she went over the partln
e scene IN her mind. The details Of
W would only increase the delight of th
J. letter. For Eva had learned during tn
last year that happiness is so rare tina
II It deserved to be rolled on the tongu
e. and not swallowed in haste. 1t was ;
lr dance on the night before her d'
y rnrture-her last dance, so she though
before she started life in earnest. The
or were sitting out a dance together, fo
K Eva was not disposed to think unkindl
of Allan, though she might resent h
b intrusion into her scheme of life. 81
r remembered how there had been silenC
o. between them for some moments, no
k Allan had leaned his elbows on h
H. knees and dug the heel Of his dancir
go shoe into the carpet.
Of "And so you are quite determined
n leave us?" said Allan.
"Of course" replied Eva. my box
of are all packed"
e, "Full of manuscript novels and 9th
y. things?"
on "One novel and several stories"
e. 81 cannot understand why you wal
to go when"
re 81 want lowell - to live larg
of life"