Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-06-17
:LarllsonPride: By CLARISsA MAcElE.
Copyrighted. 1908. by Associated
 Literary Presa.

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 Seymour frowned savagely into the fire and rumpled his hair with impa- 1 tient fingers.
 If you would listen to reason" be- gan Pauline argumentatiyely, but her l fance interrupted her
 "Reasonw he snorted contemptuous- l ly. There is no such word as reason in woman's vocabulary" l Miss Lamson arose from her seat and surveyed him with cool hauteur. l You forget yourself, MT. Seymour. Remember, please, that you have not now and never will have the right to l address me fin that manner. beg you will excuse me, sir. Good night" She | swept from the room while Seymour l stared miseHably after her. I Five, ten, fifteen minutes passed, and Pauline did not return. Then Seymour l got upon his feet and, taking his hat l and stick, left the house with sense l of deep injury, somewhat tempered by the knowledge that he was entirely in the wrong. If Polly wanted the dining room on the south side of the new house they were building, what mat ter?
 His own wishes were for a cool, shady dining room on the north side of the house, while the library occupied the sunny southern exposure, where Pauline could have blooming plants in the windows and where he could see her bright head bending over her sew ing when he looked up from his work.
 What evil spirit had tempted him to argue the question with her and to act like an unmannerly brute? Now there would be no home at all. He turned in at the club and spent the evening in solitary wretchedness.
 Miss Lamson made dignified haste to her own room, where she locked the door and confided to her pillow that Bob Seymour was sour, cross, crab bed old thing and that she was glad they would never be married. Upon this reflection she sobbed more bitterly. | Finally, when the fury of her brief mental storm had subsided, she heard the closing of the front door and the echo of familiar footsteps on the pave ment dying into silence.
 She sat up energetically.
 Pauline Lamson, you are a little fool?' she soliloquized. "If Bob wants the library on the south side of the house, what difference does it make to you? He has to work in there most of the day, while the dining room Is only used at mealtines, and 1t doesn't mat ter where it is. Now there won't be any library. north or south. nor any dining room nor anything, for I cannot go back on my word. A Lamson never does thatw
 | She sobbed herself into a most un- l pleasant slumber, which was broken | by frequent lapses into wakefulness, and at last gray morning dawned. And all the mornings and afternoons were gray after that, for Bob Seymour did not come to sue for pardon, and neither did Pauline send the little note which would have brought him repent ant to her feet
 It was Seymour pride against Lam son pride. and so Love drew his rosy mantle about him and spread his wings to be about other and more profitable business.
 
 T came by the new house today, 1 Pauline, and 1t is dearw Emile Raymond helped herself to another bonbon from the dish on Paulne's tea table and nibbled 1t appreciatively.
 "YesT Pauline's voice was faint. and there was a pink flush in either cheek.
 "Yes" mimicked Miss Raymond get ulantly Your indifference is we'll as- sumed. Polly. dear, but
 "Emilie," said Pauline. with sudden decision. "I must tell you'll haven't told another soul-that Bob Seymour and are not going to be marriedw
 Miss Raymond uttered a surprised shriek.
 Polly Lamson, what do you mean? Why. I was talking with Bob not i've minutes ago-he was standing on the steps of the new house-and from what he sald"- She paused with em- barrassment and busted herself with the bonbon dish.
 "what did he sayT' Paulines tone was Jelly cold.
 "why-now. dear, of course I don't understand anything about the matter, but he said when hinted that would like to go over the house, Mrs. Sey- mour will have that pleasure In the spring. and he smiled so naturally that I supposed"- She looked ex- pressively at her friend.
 "It is probably some one else-some other girl" smiled Pauline stifiy.
 "It might be-" was the dlseoncerting reply. sI did see him talking to Linda Burton the other day, and just as I passed them Linda was saying, I much prefer the library in green too I didn't think anything about 1t at the time. but-Llnda Is certainly attrsc- tive"
 "IInda Is a dear" gushed Pauline. pouring herself another cup of tea.
 ~Well." remarked Emile practically. ''of course I'm surprised to hear that your engagement Is broken. but I must say that Linda Burton can cer- tainly make that house look like dream. She is an artist"
 That is %" said Pauline soberiy. sI4nda's gowns are lovely"
 After Emile Raymond had nuttered