The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-10-05

"An affirmative answer" he correct
ed smilingly.
Don't go out there, Tom," she said
with queer little quaver in her voice
Il must" he said simply. ''It's a
magnificent field. 1t 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 this-the
money and the powerT' 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
p he asked very slowly.
"It's not that" she confessed.
Don't you have faith in my ultimate
successy' he asked.
''All the faith in the world" she de-
clared.
Then tell me, Helen, what makes
you hesitate?" said he.
Il don't know just what it is, but
something makes me afraid Of you,'
she replied. II think it's because l
know you'll have money and power
| and all that goes with it. I'm afraid
shall become just side issue in your
life"
| "Neper!' he maintained stoutly.
| She held out her hand deprecating-
".
1--WE watched you rise," she went
OH. 'I've watched you climb up, up
always up. But you are never salts
fed. You are bound to 90 on and on
and on. You speak of money. You
have IN amount now that many a man
would envy. You talk Of power. II
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 yet 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 l say I 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 hel
brown head.
did you ever stop to think why
fought so hard to rise?" he said.
She shook her head.
ut was because of you," said he
Every ambition, every motive, oT'
to you. II l conquered the world ant
1aid it at your feet should still fee
unworthy of you."
He stood silently looking down a
her. The wind whistled shriily and TIL
rain beat sharply against the window
panes. She felt the hand on her heat
tremble.
Helen, do you love me as am?" b
asked.
"Yes," she said.
would you love me If l were PENN
less?"
She looked up at him with a smil
that transformed her face.
How l should love you thenv' sh
said simply.
He caught one of her hands in hi
and fell to laughing softly.
my ambitions are really Of you
, making. Do with them as you will,
said he.
you mean you won't go out there?
| she asked.
! II mean have ceased to worship tll
: golden calf you mentioned" said III
mo man can serve two masters, and
: think / make a wise choice in servin
you," he laughed.
He bent over her and saw there wer
: tears in her eyes.
what on earth are you crying TO
/. Helen?" he asked.
! "Well, / have sneaking sympath
for the golden calf" she said. smilin
$ happily through her tears.
LEONARD FRANK ADAMS.