The daily Alaskan., 1905-08-31
The Golden Calf

fCopyright. 1905. by T. C. McClure.l
 The girl had stood silently at the window for some few minutes, watch ing 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 came swirling 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 incllnations and the die tateS of sane, calm judgment
 The man sat quietly by the library table. hls keen eyes fixed steadfastly on the girl and a grim expression, half expectancy and half iron determlua- tion. curving the corners Of his mouth.
 The girl turned from the window, and from her eyes he learned the con filct was not yet brought to an issue. She spoke slowly, with something Ike appeal to her tones.
 Must you go tomorrow she asked.
 Tomorrow, he replied ineNorably.
 "And-and you want an answer be- fore you gof"
 "An affirmative answer" he correct. ed smillngly.
 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. ' His eyes burned as he spoke, but they softened as they rested on the girls face. Think what 1t means" he fn- 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 hlther and thither in the wind. Then she faced the man at the table with pathetic smile on her lips.
 'Tom, I-I-can't," she said.
 He sat quite stIl, ns if the words had stunned him. Ills eyes stared blankly at her.
 "You don't love me, Helen-ls that itg" he asked very slowly.
 Its not that" she confessed.
 Don't you have faith In my ultimate successy" he asked.
 "An the faith In the world" she de clared.
 Then tell me, Helen, what makes you hesltateT" said he.
 "I don't know just what 1t Is, but something makes me afraid of you" she replied. 'I think it's because know you'll have money and power and all that goes with it I'm afraid I shall become just a side issue in your life"
 "Neverg' he maintained stoutly.
 She held out her hand deprecating ly.
 i've watched you rise" she went on. Eve watched you climb uF. up always up. Rut you are never saJs. fled You are bound to so on and on and on. You speak of money. You have an amount now that many a 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 CT opportunities. Tom, dear, its hard to say, and yet I must-you bow down to the golden calf and you always VIII 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 oi the table. He stood beside her, his big hand resting very gently on her brown head. | Did you ever stop 10 thlnh Wny | fought SO hard to risey' he said.
 She shook her head.
 Tt was because of you" sah he. Every ambition, every motive, l owe to you. If l conquered the world and laid 1t at your feet I should still feel unworthy of you"
 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 tremble.
 Helen, do you love me as amy" he asked.
 e