The Democratic advocate., 1908-05-22
LarnSonPride|
By CLARlSSA MACKIE.
Copyrighted, 1908, by Associated .
Literary Press. .
By CLARISSA MACKIE.

tient fingers.
IF you would listen to reason" be-
ran Pauline argumentatively, but her
farce interrupted her.
"Rcasonr he snorted contemptuous-
" There is no such word as reason
in woman's vocabulary"
Miss Lamson arose from her seat
and surveyed him with cool hauteur.
You forget yourself, Mr.. Seymour.
Remember, please, that you have not
now and never will have the right to
address me in that manner. 1 beg you
will excuse me, sir Good night" She
sv-pDt from the room while Seymour
stared miserably after her.
Five, ten, fifteen minutes passed, and
Pauline did not return. Then Seymour
cot upon his feet and, taking his hat
and stick, left the house with a sense
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?
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 dignifed haste to
her own room, where she locked the
door and confided to her pillow that
Bob Seymour was a 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
fo0lr' she soliloquized. eff 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 mealtimes, and it doesn't mat.
ter where it is. Now there won't be
any library, north OF south, nor any
dining room nor anything, for cannot
go back on my word. A Lamson never
does that
She sobbed herself into most un-
pleasant slumber, which was broken
by frequent lapses into wakefulness,
and at last Il gray morning dawned.
And all the mornings and afternoons
We're gray after that for Bob Seymour
did hot come to sue for pardon, and
neither did Pauline send the little note
which would have brought him repent
ant to her feet.
1t was Seymour pride against Lam
son pride, and so Love drew his rosy
mantle about him and spread his wings
to he about other and more profitable
business.
p
81 came by the new house today,
Pauline, and it is a dear" Emile
Raymond helped herself to another
bonbon from the dish on Pauline's tea
table and nibbled it appreciatively.
Yes" Pauline's voice was faint,
and there was a pink flush in either
cheek
Yes" mimicked Miss Raymond pet
ulant!y. Your Indifference is well as
sumed Polly, dear, butt
"Emilie," said Pauline, with sudden
decision, 81 must tell you'll haven't
told another soul-that Bob Seymour
and are not going to be married."
Miss Raymond uttered q surprised
Shrek.
Polly Lamson, what do you mean:
Why, was talking with Bob not five
minutes ago-he was standing on the
steps of the new house-and from
what he said''- She paused with en-
barrassment and busted herself with
the bonbon dish.
What did he say?" Pauline's tone
was icily cold
"Nhy-now, dear, of course l don't
understand anything about the matter,
but he said when I 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 l supposed She looked ex-
pressively at her friend.
IT is probably some one else-some
other girl" smiled Pauline stiff1y.
1T might be-" was the disconcerting
reply. Il did see him talking to Linda
Burton the other day, and just as ]
passed them Linda was saying, Il
much prefer the library in green too.
didn't think anything about it at the
time, but-Linda is certainly attrac-
tive"
Linda 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 /
must say that Linda Burton can GER
talnly make that house look like
ufeam. She is an artist
That is So" said Pauline soberly
Llnda's gowns are lovely"
After Emile Raymond had fiuttered
away to another tea table and proba-
pfy to other condolences Pauline fled
" ner own room, where she spent a
very quiet hour. Then just as the
uusk was falling she dOnned her wraps
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