fearfully hard upon women and very unjust to them, even
at its best; and it is my conviction that the hardship might be very
largely relieved and the injustice remedied, if men only had sense
enough to discover and grace enough to recognize the individualities and
idiosyncracies of the women with whom they are associated?"

"I think the trouble is not there," responded Temple. "Most men
understand their womankind fairly well. The trouble is that instead of
respecting the individualities of women as something to which they have
a right, most men conceitedly assume that it is their duty to repress
those individualities, to mould their wives and daughters to a model of
their own shaping. The process is a cruel one when it succeeds. When it
fails, it means wretchedness all around. Indeed, I think that absolutely
all there is of human disagreement of an unpleasant sort, whether
between men and women, or between persons of the same sex, is ultimately
traceable to a failure duly to recognize and respect the rights of
individuality."

"I'm inclined to agree with you," answered Duncan; "but now I've got to
dish up and carve this kettleful of corned beef, and you, I imagine,
might somewhat expedite the work of the earth shovelers by lending them
the light of your countenance for a time."

Duncan had scarcely finished the dishing up of the unsavory corned beef,
the only merit of which was that it was sufficiently cooked, when a
dispatch came to him from the New York bankers whom he had left in
charge of the company's interests in the financial capital. They
telegraphed:

Tandy reports that you have completely failed to build across
county line. The others give notice that if so, they will deflect
road to Paducah. Tandy offers subscriptions of vast sum from
counties, towns, Paducah, and his Memphis and Ohio road. What
answer shall we give? Answer by telegraph.

This message acted like an electric shock. It quickened every pulse of
Duncan's being. It nerved him to new endeavor and renewed
determination. He promptly replied:

Tell them to wait till time is up. They have given their promise
and I have given mine. I will keep mine. They must keep theirs.
Remind them I'm not dead yet.

Then Duncan went to inspect the progress of the work.

XXXIV

A CHEER FOR LITTLE MISSIE

It was after seven o'clock, and darkness had completely fallen, when
Barbara received Guilford Duncan's