The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-08-10
The Golden Calf

came SWuAM8 0OWA, sAA<A wv o>s-s
elms in the street tossed their branches
in wild distress. he
The strife Of the storm without seem
ed typical Of the stormy combat that
was going on tn her heart-a warfare
between her inclinations and the die
tates of sane, calm judgment.
The man sat quietly by the library
table, his keen eyes fixed steadfastly
on the girl and grim expression, half
expectancy and half iron determine
ton, curving the corners Of his mouth.
The girl turned from the window,
and from her eyes he learned the con-
flict was not yet brought to an issue.
She spoke slowly, with something Ike
appeal to her tones.
'.Must you 60 tomorrow she asked.
Tomorrow" he replied inexorably. 4
"And-and you want an answer be-
fore you got"
IAN Affirmative answer" he correct
ed smilingly.
/ Don't go out there, Tom," she said
with queer little quaver in her voice
II must" he said simply. cts a
magnificent field. It offers everything
I want-money, power and position"
His eyes burned as he spoke, but they
softened as they rested on the girls
face. think what it MEANS" he fin
ished.
you're sure you want all thistle
money and the power?" she asked.
Absolutely certain" said he cheer
fully.
She turned to the window again and
watched the leaves driven hither and
thither in the wind. Then she faced
the man at the table with a pathetic
smile ON her. lips.
"Tom, I-I-can't," she said.
He sat quite still, as If the words
had stunned him. His eyes stared
blankly at her.
"You don't love me, Helen-is that
it," he asked very slowly.
"Its not that" she confessed.
"Don't you have faith in my ultimate
successT' he asked.
eAll the faith in the world" she de-
clared.
Then tell me, Helen, what makes
you hesitateT' said he.
II don't know just what it is, but
something makes me afraid OF you"
she replied. II think it's because I
know you'n. have money and power
and ell that goes with it. I'm afraid
shall become just side issue in your
life."
"Never!" he maintained stoutly.
She held out her hand deprecating-
~.
"Tve watched you rise," she went
on. i've watched You climb up, up
always up. But you are never salts.
fed. You are bound to 60 on and On
and ON. You speak Of money. You
have an amount now that many man
would envy. You talk Of power. It
is yours here. And yet it isn't enough.
You must go to other fields with great
er opportunities. Tom, dear, it's hard
to say, and vet I must-you bow down
to the golden calf and you always will.
In the years to come you would think
more and more Of your ambitions and
correspondingly less Of me. That is
why I say can't marry you"
She sat down opposite him and rest.
ed her head on her hand. He rose
quietly and came round to her side Of
the table. He stood beside her, his
big hand resting very gently on her
brown head. @ II e
Ibid you ever stop to think why I
fought 20 hard to riser he said.
She shook her head.
ut was because Of you" said he.
"Every ambition, every motive I owe
to you. II I conquered the world and
laid 1t at your feet should still feel
unworthy Of you" a. ..f.-s.,
He stood silently looking down at
her. The wind whistled shrilly and the
rain beat sharply against the window
panes. She felt The Aand on her head
tremble.
"Helen. do you love ne a. amt" he
asked.
'Yes," she said.
would you love me II I were pen1i-
lees7"
She looked up at him with smile
that transformed her face.
''How I should love you thenr' she
said simply. 81
He caught one Of her hands in his
and fell to laughing softly.
''My ambitions are really Of your
making. Do with them a. you win, I"
said he.
"You mean you won't 60 out therer'
she asked.
II mean I have ceased to worship tie
golden calf you mentioned" said b.
mo man can serve two masters, ana I
think I make a wise choice IN serving
you," he laughed.
He bent over her and saw there wsre
tears in her eyes.
'what on earth are you crying for.
Helen?'' he asked, /.
''Well, I have a sneaking Gympathy
FOR the golden calf" She said, smiling
happily through her tears.
LEONARD FRANK ADAMS.
A Quick CAolse.
The late bishop o3 London W1e ooce
nrdened nv his nhyaician 10 lpaod the