The daily Alaskan., 1905-11-13
The Golden Calf

The girl had stood SlSAlly HL IlS window for some few minutes, watch ing the long, sIantlng lines of rain that came driving down from the dun col ored clouds in the sky. With every savage gust of wind the dead leaves came swlrling down, and the giant elms in the street tossed their branches in wild distress.
 The strife of the storm without seem- cd typical of the stormy combat that was going on In her heart-a warfare between her mclinatlons 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 a grim expression, half expectancy and half iron determlna' ton, curving the cor.!cr5 of his mouth.
 The girl turned from the window and from her eyes he learned the con- alct was not yet brought to an issue. She spoke slowly, with something like appeal to her tones.
 Must you go tomorrowE she asked.
 Tomorrow" he replied ineXorably.
 "And-und you want an answer be- fore you goT"
 An affirmative answer" he correct ed smiling!y.
 Don't go out there, Tom,' she said with a queer little quaver in her voice
 q must" he said simply. Its a magnificent field, It offers everything I want-mOney, power and position" Ills eyes burned as he spoke, but they softened as they rested on the girls face. Think what it means" he hn, ished.
 You're sure you want all this-the money aud the power" she asked.
 Absolutely certain" said he cheer fully.
 She turned to the window again ard watched the leaves driven hlther 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 Ity' he naked very slowly.
 "Ies not that" she confessed.
 Don't you have faith in my ultimate successT' he asked.
 "AIl the faith in the world" she de clared.
 Then tell me, Helen, what makes you hesitate| said he.
 "I don't know just what 1t is, but something makes me afraid of you she replied. "I think it's because J know you'll have money and power and all that goes with it. I'm afraid I shall become just a side Issue iu your life"
 "Never!' he maintained stoutly.
 She held out her hand depreCating l Y.
 i've watched you rise" she went 5n. "Tve watched you climb up, up, always up. But you are never satis- 6ed. You are bound to go on and on md oD. You speak of money. You have an amount now that many a man would envy. You talk of power. 1t Is yours here. And yet 1t isn't enough You must go to other fields with great CT opportunities. Tom, dear its hard to say. and yet l 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 correspOndlngly less of me. That is why say I cant marry you"
 She sat down opposite him and rest d her head on her hand. He rose Iuietly and came round to her side of .he table. He stood beside her, his Jig hand resting very gently on her )rowE head.
 Did you ever stop to think why l ought so hard to rlsef" be said. She shook her head.
 Tt was because of you," said he. Every ambition, every motive, l owe 70 you. If conquered the world and aid it at your feet should still feel unworthy of you"
 He stood silently looking down at Ter. The wind whistled shriily and the 'aln beat sharply against the window Janes. She felt the hand on her head ] ,remble.
 Helen, do you love me as am" he asked.
 Yes" she said.
 Would you love me If I were penni. .ess2"
 She looked up at him with a smile that transformed her face.
 How should love you theng she said simply.
 He caught one of her hands in his and fell to laughing softly.
 My ambitions are really of your making Do with them as you will" said he.
 You mean you won't go out there?" she asked.
 sT mean I have ceased to worship the