Middletown transcript., 1897-03-20


been padding about London, climbing
grimy stairs Of newspaper offices. and
talking to people who did not seem s.
pecially pleased to see her. Her skirts
were wet, and wisp of damp hair was
tum bling over her eyes. On the hall
table. disclosed by the Pickering gas-jet,
were some letters.
"A year ago to-dayr' said Eva to
herself as she closed the door against
the wind. "Has he written or has he
fOrgottenP"
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 went
upstairs to her bed-sitting-room with
the letter in her hand, ard joy in her
heart.
s.Hateful little rocml" size muir
INJURED to herself. as she struck match
and lit The gas.
"But it's the last time thank Godl"
The room was not really bad; bed
in the corner, wash-stand, a wald-
robe, hele and there picture on the
walls, and table by the window, ra-
ther rickety, on which lay a heap OF
manuscripts half finished stony.
II will burn that before go to he'd
Tonight" said Eva, as she caught
sight of it.
Then she took off her hat and cloak,
drew the only easy chair under the gas
jet and satdown; lingering the letter
she did not open it at on ce.
Now that happiness stretched in front
of her it was pleasant to linger on the
confnes0f misery, to look back on the
life she was to leave.
sit is not every one," said Eva re-
flectivtly, who can make expert
ments in life-withOut expense"
Eva Norrington had been the pride
of the provincial town which gave her
birth. At the HigbSchool 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 twenty, she gained guinea prize |
for a story in weekly paper, she be-
gan 10 think that at least she might be
a great novelist. At any rate she felt
sure that somewhere ahead OF her |
stretched career; and as her twenty
first birthday approached she announced
to her startled parents her intention
of going to London in search of it.
Thereupon ensued q series Of domestic
scenes such as have been common of
late in the homes Of England, wherein
the parents play the part Of the appre-
hensive hen. the daughter that of the
adventurous duckling. The duckling
invariably gains its point; and so it
was with Eva Norrington. Having re-
futed argument and resisted persua-
sion for a certain number of weeks,
Eva obtained a grudging consent to
her departure. The townspeople knew
not whether to admire or disapprove.
But they had read in novels of young
aides who took their lives and latch
keys into their own hands, became IA
nous, and married respectfully after
all. So during the weeks of prepara-
tion for her campaign, Eva became
of figure in local society, ,
and more than one dinner-party was
given in her honor, as well as plentiful
advice as TO the necessary precautions ,
against London guile, and many re- ,
cipes for guarding against the colds in =
duced by the fogs that infest the me- !
tropolis.
Eva was almost happy; for she had s
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 OBJ
jections to the process. She would !
have bten quito happy but for Allan
Craig. For Allan Craig, whenever he
heard that Eva was bent on going to
London 10 make a name for herself, 1;
promptly offered her his own for /;
) substitute. It was a good enough :
name, and at The foot of check it was !,
generally respected, as Allan Craig had !
lately stepped into bis fathers busi- .
ness as estate agent and was pros a
pering. Eva was disturbed, but she y
.urned not aside from her project. Eva h
lad mapped out her life and Allan .
Craig was not included in the scheme. =
AS she sat lingering her letter in her a
bed room, she went over the parting et
IceDe in her mind. The details of it d
would only increase the delight Of the m
etter. For Eva had learned during the n;
,ast year that happiness is so rare that A
it deserved to be rolled on the tongue Al
ind not swallowed in haste. It was at W
. dance on the n.gnt before her depar- o,
,ure-her last dance, 50 she thought, T
,efore she started life In earnest. They "
vere sitting out dance together, for n,
Eva was not disposed to think un-
indy of Allan, though she might re- h,
ent his Intrusion into her scheme of
ife. Size remembered how there had Q,
'een silence between them for O.
or some moments, how Allan had t.
saned his elbows on bis knees and dug b,
be heel Of his dancing shoe into the v
arpet. II
Sand - yeu are quite determined 10 10
save us7'' said Allan. ri