The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1910-07-27
"A Question Of Inches. .
By RUBY II. AYRES.

She lived next door 70 me. A
hedge of briar rose was the sole bar
rier between our respective gardens.
Sometimes. when the hedge was not
too thick, we held conversation across
IL, and her face was the fairest rosa
Of all as 1t smiled at me between the
leaves; but more often than not she
would come into my garden and sit
beside my chair and talk to me. for
am q cripple. though, as this story Is
not mine, I will not weary you with
recital of the accident which chained
me to my chair.
l grew fond of the little girl next
door.
No. there are no conclusions to be
jumped at. I am fifty. and my hair is
grey; and she is one-and-fwenty.
It was one morning In early June
when saw the glimmer of her frock
through the rose hedge, and heard
the click of the gate. l had been ex-
pecting her, seeing that shortly before
l had seen poor Bob Hillyer's detected
down the sunny road.
He had been refused" for the sec
ond time as l had known he would be
but experience has taught me the use
lessness Of arguing with a man in
love.
She came up my garden path with a
frown on her pretty face.
Hes been and done 1t again." she
said with evaporation.
looked at her critically: she looked
rather disturbed, but certainly not an
cry.
"The man is a fool" I said quietly.
She looked startled and not particu-
larly pleased.
For proposing to me:' she asked.
"Of course" said /.
"Why? Rye tried to look dignified
it was failure.
Because he might have known be.
forehand that you would refuse him"
l said evenly.
81 have told him ever so many times
| that I don't want to be married." she
assured me eagerly.
Quite so," admitted. But that
isn't the reason"
She flushed up.
| What do you mean?" she demand
ed.
II mean," I said, that If you told
Bob Hillyer the truth you would say
l am not going to marry you because
you are too short, and too quiet, and
too much everything don't admire in
a man.
| 'In fact" added serenely, Its
merely a question of inches. But looks
are not everything"
"T never said they were," she re-
piled. .... ....-
But you think so." said I, expect
ing instant annihilation. "And that's
why I am going to tell you that Hill
yer's little finger is worth more than
the handsome six feet something that
goes by the name Of Godfrey wy
burg
Another silence. then Rye laughed
not very naturally. "Are you jealous
of him, too?" she asked.
isn't it rather an insult to accuse
people of being jealous of a tailor's
dummy" asked.
Rye grew scarlet, there were tears
of vexation in her eyes.
Hes the handsomest man in the
country" she declared. And you
know he is" ,
my dear. I never denied It," said 1
"But you could put his brain on
three penny piece, and he hasn't the
heart of a mouse. 1t isn't always the
biggest men who have the biggest
hearts-and Bob Hillyer-'
"Oh, I'm sick of hearing about Bob.
she burst in. Father never loses q
chance to tell me that he is the fines,
fellow in the world. and mother says
that she loves him like her own son
but he never will be, in spite OF wha,
lthey say" declared Rye.
maintained a discreet silence, chif
ly because differed from her, and il
did not seem quite a propitious mo
lment in which to say SO.
"Of course" she submitted with sar
Icasm, I'VE all know that Bob is rich."
And we all know" added. that
what is far better-he has a heart o.
gold"
II don't believe in betting" she an
nounced. throwing away the last peta
of a decapitated flower. but I should
like to have a little one with you
that I never marry Bob
Delighted" said I. will you hav'
gloves or chocolates?"
"Gloves-six pairs. and my size I!
small fives."
She seemed confident of winning.
"And II YOU lose?' I asked.