The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-04-22
AN AMBITION OF EVA


Eva Norrlngton inserted her latcl
key into the keyhole of Bedfors
Square boarding house, and entered.
was a dismal, windy, rainy Novembe
evening, and ever since lunch she hat
been padding about London, climbin,
grimy stairs Of newspaper Offices, ant
talking to people who did not seem es
pecially pleased to see her. Her skirt
were wet, and q wisp Of damp hair wa
tumbling over her eyes. On the hal
table, disclosed by the flickering gas
Jet, were some letters.
"A year ago todayw said Eva to her
self as she closed the door against th'
wind. HAS he written, or has he for
gotten?"
He had not forgotten. Eva picket
up the letter from the hall table, LOOKED
quickly round at the closed hall door
at the closed dining-room door and a
the baize door that led to the kitcher
stairs-and kissed It. Then she wen
upstairs to her bed-sitting-room witt
the letter In her hand, and Joy In heI
heart.
"Hateful little roomw she murmuree
to herself, as she struck a match ane
lit the gas. But It's the last time
thank Godv'
The room was not really bad; bee
in the corner, wash-stand, ward
robe. here and there picture on tho
walls and table by the window
rather rickety, ON which lay heap OF
manuscript-a half-finished story.
81 will burn that before I go to bee
tonight" said Eva, as she caught sigh
of it.
Then she took off her hat and cloak
drew the only easy chair under the gas
let and sat down; lingering the let
ter-she did not open it at once. Now
that happiness stretched in front OF
her It was pleasant to linger on the
confines Of misery, to look back on the
life she was to leave.
"It is not every one" said Eva re
ffectiyely, "who can make expert
ments in life-without expense
Eva Norrington had been the pride
Of the provincial town which gave hei
birth. At the High School no CIR
could stand against her. Her form
governess. who now and then asked
her favorite pupils to tea, even sale
she might be head-mistress one day
To Eva this seemed absurd. But when
at the age of twenty. she gained
guinea prize for 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 career; and
MS her twenty-irst birthday ap
preached she announced to her start
led parents her intention of going te
London in search Of it. Thereupon en-
sued a series of domestic scenes suct
as have been common of late in the
homes of England wherein the par
ents play the part Of the apprehensive
hen, the daughter that of the adven'
turous duckling. The duckling invari
ably gains it's point; and so it was
with Eva NorringtOn.
Eva was almost happy; for she had
the hopefulness Of youth and beauty,
and all the exhilaration Of taking hei
life into her hands and fashioning II
as she would, with none to raise OBJ
iectiOns to the process. She would
have been quite happy but for Allan
Craig. For Allan Craig, whenever he
beard that Eva was bent on going tc
London to make a name for herself
promptly offered her his own for sub
stitute 1t was good enough name
and at the foot Of a check it was gen
orally respected, as Allan Craig had
lately stepped into his fathers busi
ness as estate agent and was prosper
Ing. Eva was disturbed. but she turned
not aside from her project Eva had
mapped out her life and Allan Craig
was not included in the scheme.
AS she sat lingering her letter In hel
bedroom, she went over the parting
scene in her mind. The details of II
would only increase the delight of the
letter. They were sitting out n dance
together, for Eva was not disposed tC
think unkindly Of Allan, though she
might resent his intrusion into heI
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 Ire all packed"
"Frh of manuscript novels and 9th
er thingsT
"One novel and several stories"
II cannot understand why you want
TO go when"
81 want to-well-to live larger
life"
"You mean you want to live in big
ger placer"
"Well, not exactly. don't think yor
quite understand
81 quite understand that there Is not
enough scope for you here and that !