The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1914-04-17
LOVE VS.. GOLDEN CALF
BY L. =. ADAMS.

| colored clouds In the sky. With every
savage gust OF wind the dead leaves
came swirling down, and the giant
eims In the street tossed theiI
branches in wild distress
The strife OF the storm without
seemed typical of the stormy com
bat that was going on In her heart-a
warfare between her inclinations and
the dictates 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 determ.
fnation. curving the corners OF his
mouth.
The girl turned from the window,
and from her, eyes he learned the
conflict was not yet brought to an is
sue. She spoke slowly, with some
thing like appeal In her tones
Must you go tomorrow" she
asked.
Tomorrow" he replied, inexorably,
"And--and you want an answer be-
fore you go?'
An Affirmative answer he cor
rected, smilingly.
Don't go out there, Tom" she said
with queer little quaver In her
voice.
Il must he said. simply. ITS a
magnificent field. 1t offers everything
l 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 finished.
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 q pathetic
smile on her lips.
Tom, l-I-cant." she said.
He sat quite still, as II the words
had stunned him. His eyes stared
blankly at her.
You don't love me, Helen-is that
it?" he asked very slowly.
It's 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.
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. Il think it's because
know you'll have money and power
and all that goes with it. I'm afraid
! shall become just a side issue In
your life"
"Never!" he maintained stoutly.
She held out her hand deprecat.
ingly.
I've watched you RISE" she went
on; I've 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 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 greater opportunities. Tom
DEAR it's 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 corresponding
ly less of me. That Is why l 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, his big
hand resting very gently on her
brown head.
Did you ever stop to think why
fought SO hard to riser" he said.
She shook her head
1T was because of YOU" said he.
Every ambition, every motive l owe
to you. II l conquered the world and
laid it at your feet / 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 l ann"
he asked.
YES" she said.
Would you love me If / we're penni-
less?"
She looked up at him with a smile
that transformed her face
How | 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
Do with them as you will"
said he.
You mean you won't go out there?"
she asked.
Il mean / have ceased to worship
the golden calf you mentioned" said
he. mo man can serve two masters,
and | think | make wise choice in
serving you" he laughed
He bent over her and saw there
were tears In her eyes.
What on earth are you crying
for, Helen?" he asked.
We'll, / have sneaking sympathy |
n .