The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-06-12
TIE EVENING STORY
The Golden Calf.

The girl had stood silently at the |
WINDOW for some few minutes, watch /
Lns the long. slanting 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 |
SSlihe sWirling down, and the giant |
slLns IN the street tossed their |
branches in wild distress.
The strife OF the storm without
seemed typical of the stormy combat |
t1aI was going on in her heart-a |
warfare between her inclinatiors and |
the dictates Of sane. calm judgment. !
Inc man sat quietly by the library
table, his keen eyes fixed steadfastlv
on the girl and a grim expression, half |
expectancy and half iron determine
uon, curving the corners Of his mouth.
me girl turned from the window, |
ana from her eyes he learned the con-
met was not yet brought to an issue
she spoke slowly, with something like
appeal to her tones.
asked.
Tomorrow" he replied inexorably.
And-and you want an answer be-
"a. An affirmative answer" he cor
Don't go out there. Tom she
voice.
81 must" he said simply. Its
magnificent field. It offers everything
His eyes burned as he spoke, but they
softened as they rested on the girls
ished.
You're sure you want all this-the
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
simle on her lips.
TON. 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 aske dvery slowly.
Its not that" she confessed.
Don't you have faith in my ulti-
mate success ?" he asked.
''All the faith in the world, she de-
clared.
'sThen 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. Il think it's because I know
you'll have money and power and all
that goes with it. I'm afraid shall
become just side issue in your life"
Never" he maintained stoutly.
She held out her hand deprecatingly.
i've watched you rise" she went on.
1--WE watched you climb up, up-always
up. But you are never satisfied You
are bound to go on and on and on. You
speak Of money You nave 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 greater opportunities.
Tom, dear, it's hard to say, and yet
rnust-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 1 say l can't
marry you"
She sat down opposite him and rested
her head on her hand He rose quietly
and came round to her side of the table.
He stood beside her, his big hand rest
ing very. gently on her brown head.
did you ever stop to think why
fought so hard to rise?' he said
She shook her head.
1T was because of you" said he
Every ambition, every motive, owe
to YOU. If I conquered the world and
laid it at your feet I should still feel
He stood silently looking down at her.
The wind whistled shrilly and the rain
beat sharply against the window panes.
She felt the hand on her head trenn-
@Helen. do you love me as I amp he
Yes" she said.
Would you love me If were penni-
Iess?''
She looked up at him with smile
that transformed her face.
How I should love you then" 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?'
so 7 mean I have ceased to worship the
golden calf you mentioned said he.
ssIo man can serve two masters, and
think I make a wise choice in serving
He bent over her and saw there were
Nv what on earth are you crying for,
Helen?'' he asked.
sVell. I have a sneaking sympathy
for the golden calf" she said, smiling
happily through her tears
LEONARD FRANK ADAMS.
copyright 1905, by T G. McClure)
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