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THE NEW INMATE OF HILFONT. A THRILLING STORY OF OLD ENGLAND. CHAPTKR IX. Mr. Scdgewick cam* noit day. So far a* local society ooald confer it, Hugh Hedge- wick wa* a man ef fame, and of course the poeition of th* two girl*, one of whom held to interacting a relationship to him, wa* immediately improved. Somehow, the eenntenano* of her future brother-in-Uw, wliom *h* had known for a abort time only, gate Alice Harlcy more oonfideno* in her- elf taa my loving and motherly affection ; aad 1 underttood why, ai.<l did not blame hr. While Clara, wanting no confidence in herself, was content to look up to him with a girlish, all-believing faith which touched everybody's heart. Perhaps *h* wa* too dntif ul and obedient for an engaged young lady ; but tlien ehe wa* so young, and * pretty, and b* looked *oentir*ly de- lighted with her blushing silence. 1 do not lhm anybody ooald have had th* heart to vn Clara In h*r pretty happiness. Mr. Ss4gow..-k wu to stay a week a whole week the .third part of tbt time that they themtervee were to *tay at Hil- font) and h* brought the prettiest Christ- ma* presents for them, ornament* for hi* littl* Clara, inch atth* had never dreamed of before. Yet I we* not entirely pleased with hi* manner toward her though it was perfectly natural, and just what might have been expected a tender, play- ful gallantry, alway* delicate, always con- siderate, and full of *nppr****d foadneei, but Hill it wai th* bthevlor of a man who bad taken to hi* bosom, for plaything and personal pleasure, a pretty chili. What was heel*** Yet I did not think it quite a a!* foundation on which to build th* sober superstructure of marriage. O* th* firt evening onr party was in created by eeveral neighbor*, and a very obeerfal-lookitg party it was, I could not but imile to myself when I remembered how I had half apologized to Lucy for our uioil hospitalities. Lucy was th* chief entertainer th* most pleated gunt. She made n > display, certainly of her accom- plishments, and did not do anything to attract special attention ; but she was so perfectly at her cite, so free from any kind of shynees, to ready to contribute to every- body'* amusement. Everybody, In due re- turn of gratitude, wai delighted with her ; anagain congratulation* poured in upon her from all aide*. In this company, what* ther* were a good many pretty girl*, the was not specially distinguished for her prettinea* - hulihe waste "nice I" Th* next morning we were by ourselves). When we came into th* drawing room after dinner, Lucy began to play. I am uot much charmed myself by the cold voice* of instruments ; they aay 1 don't understand fine music ; at all events, 1 prefer it through human interpretation, and not through wood and ivory. ButI was not ignorant enough to b* unaware of the quality of Lucy's music ; 1 bad no inkling of it before. She practised, certainly ; but her practising was of polka*, walti**, and marches, like ei.y other youug lady, win >h the played well but without any extraordinary ikill. It was quite diff- erent to-night, aad we all listened with urprit*. 8h* was evidently a fint-rate p.tmsL Amther discovery I end, "Lucy. I bad no idea you were to accomplished," a* I stood by the piano, where lay all ihflas waltxeeaod polkas. "No?" aaid Lucy, with a smiling interrogatory, looking up into my fce i and I went to th* other end of tho room and *at down, really wishing for the moment, that tome aervant would enter the room with tome annoying measage, to hive a legitimate opportunity for the dis- charge of ill. humor. I am not a quarrel- some person in general ; but I rm human. I cannot keep at one level blank of pretty behavior ; and my comfort was rather spoil- i for that night. When I looked toward th* piano attain, Hugh3edgowick was standing behind Lucy'* chair, turning th* leaves of her mutio, his face quite glowing with interestaud admir- ation, while all th* people in the room \wtre absolutely silent, listening, oven the two Mrs Crofton*. No one was so pleueil a* Mr. Hedgswiok. When Lucy bad tinUhed, h* asked for something *l*and aometluna el**, till th* mrfeit of sweet sounds loose J everybody'* lougue, and conversation Wa* riiiurned ag* n. Hull in defiance ol tiie conversation, in deflaiio* of the rising rli*> pleasure of th* two Mary Croftou*. who naturally concluded that they alsonueht in be a<kad to exhibit their uifu. and IMH' a hare of the applause, Mr. Se.lgewiek (till kept Lucy at Ui* piano. All thi* time Clara stoo ! close hy, with her eyes nrrre-' timee bonl upon Lucy tome times up >n Sedge- wick ; on Lucy with the most genuine %ud simple admiration, and on Hugh S.'.lir. wick with a moor* and candid Jeliglit in teeing hi* pleasure, which ws enough to beautify th* whole *uene. "Look !" said Mrs. Forteecue, directing, my att*ntiu to Clara's face. "Look how pleaax'l *Ii M. But tfte won't be so pleased if it is repeated to-morrow." "Hush, Mary I" laid J "he i* a* uu*m- . < u clul'l. >i a child, poor littl* thing," laid .Mary "But you need net apeak so tragi- cally ri.hsr ; there ii nothing to be cuguio- iou* about." And of e*h.-Mt!,*;e was nothing. But when fat finds nut th* tatte* and requirement* of one's .uipnion by a series .it n 1 In, i.rprnes on* learns to beiutpiuiout thth- er on* will or *, "How sh* playn !" eri*d Btrtia. "That'* what I oall something like moaec none of your school-girl stuff. There, Alice, now, Con*ia Clara ha* a pretty littl* voice ; but eet her down to *ing, and her hand tumble* on the keyt like an old woman '. She can no more accompany herself than I can. There's no steadiaeu in moet young lad- in ' "When did yon become a critic, H-i tie T" aiked I, not very much pleated by th* comparison. "Since I've been In town ," eaid Bertie, honestly. " I've been at th* opera, I uan.t tell hosr often. That's the eort ef thing. K* i com 1 1 ought to go up bodily, for one night, just to hear what mueic i*. Let'* have charge of them I Wouldn't it be a larkT ' Oe and a*k Lucy If sh* oan sing," (aid Mary Forteecu*. "You mustn't talk of lark* to a couple ef old ladiea. Can the, Clar* r " Really, I do not know ; I wa* net aware h* could play after (hi* faehien," said I. "Uo, Bertie." So Bsrtie went. ' Ob, no. no, we heard Lucy answer, with a laagfa ; "hut Coutin Mary can. No more, pleaae, Mr. Sedge wiek, no more ! I shall b* delighted to play for yon to-morrow. Aunt dare like* the voice best, end you are absolutely craay about Beethoven no, pleaae. I am sure we have been quite selfih, forgetting every- thingno more," And Lucy oame tripping away, putting on her glove* and looking half surprised, halflaihamid, a* if only that momeattsi* had become nontcious of her long occupation. Sh* looked it her watch with a pretty shrug of her shoulders. " Half-pact ton ' Indeed I muttaik y >u to forgive me.auntCUre, said Lucy. When I fairly sit down to the piano I always forget myself, and Mr. .Sedgewick eeemt quite an enthutiatt, too. Poor little Mies Harley ! how quiet the looks ! I am afraid we have bored bar to death with Beethoven. 1 am sure I ought to make an apology all round for forgetting what I wa* about, and keeping every body occupied o long." "I w* not at all bor*d," aaid Clara, for whom Mr. Sedgewick at last had found a tat "I enjoyed the music very much." "But she will not eejoy it so much an- other night," *aid Mary Fortetcu* in an aside. "You have not kept every body occupied. my dear ; don't repoach yourseli," said I, replying to Lucy. "We hare been talking, and the two Mary's have exhausted the picture book*. But bow is it that you never told me that you were so fond of music ?" "It did not matter, aunt," said l.ucv, quietly. "1 never was troublesome all my life. I wa* quite willing to give it up. It did not matter." '<iive it up T" cried I, really moved be- yond my patience ; "why in th* world should you give it up " "May, aunt, it is iu*t a* yon pleaae," aid Lucy. "I shouM b* very glad to i.lay half the day.'' And Lucy took oat her crochet.and book- ed up her thread with the most perfect equanimity a giri of meet wonderful sweetness and Hood-temper never put out; but I really did not appreciate these mir- aculous qualities u other people did. Hugh gedgewick bad found a chair for Clara, and wa* leaning over it. "Forgive me !" h* *aid in an undertone, which only I, sating -jloae to them, could hear ; "I am a great lover of music." "Korgiv) you !" (aid Clara looking up in his with her innocent eye*. "1 wa* v*ry glad indeed I" Ami to *ha wa*. A thought of envy or of jealousy had never entered that in- nocent young head. H* muttered some thiog more, which seemed to me to sound v*ry Ilk* that worn out "angel !" which 1 had hoped was only used by lovers in story- book*. Clara wai evidently surprised by it, as well a* I. "Have I don* anything very good ?" taid Clara, with a momentary gleam of girlish humor; "but I wish I could play like Miss Croft on ' "By th* bye, I have never heard you." taid Mr. Sedgewick. "I have no doubt you do. I must hoar yon toon. It i* too late to-night ?" Which meant, I fear, that, after Lucy'* performance, Mr. Sedg*wiok did not car* about the ichool girl playing of his little brills I watchel them both with aome anxiety. He wai f >nd of her, but h* wat only playing with her very fond of her, ready to take her up in bis arms, and run away with her toy moment; but if it had no- been for Lucy, thi* ridiculous inspio- loiiines* certainly never could have entered into my head. CHAPTKR X. Mary Fortescu* wa* wrong in hr prophecy. This music wai repealed next night, and Clara waj still pleased with it. Whatever other people might do, (he never eeo compared horself with Licy Crofton ; and the tender quiet of her girlish love, whiah wa* not pastion, was diitnrbtd by no suspicion*. She wai pleased to tee Mr. Sr.Igewiok pleased, aud admire* to it* fullf.si extent the supvrlttive talent which i produced that result ; but sh* did not I grumble that t'm talent wai exerciied by another than herself. Secure in her own true little heart, Clara tat working aome J little luti of embroidery, without agitati>n and without tear. 1 dare lay it never oc- I c'ure.l to her that an accomplishment or a talent oould wile one heart away from another. Those were outside matters, aol very 'independent of the lov* which bound tins innooent child to th* mail ot the wuild who stood beiide her ; and with a flash of womanly pride Clara would have shrunk from the ideal of "a rival." I, however, watch*<l them with let* coupling feeling*. 1 became let* and leu pleated w'i'.h Sedge- wick, more and more concerned about Cl u.i: and I tliink Alice, who had remtu.c-,1 lightly misintliropioal ever oinoo onr viiit to hitoourt, loukcd on alto with a troubled eye There WM also mutio through the day. It is alwav* captivating to a party of I young people to spend idle hours round a piano oonimlting. " I>i yon know this ?" " Can you take a pirt in that t" " Ii not , thrs uagnifijen: ? " Tl,fn 10 find oat WSWM vcicel ar suit Mo, and wlit vo-y- ! "ly ean do. It ii *i g<xxl a f-.hion of . at iJle'ieu *Voli it prour 'o fall 111 lo.c, and a* fruitful of foelithyonngeufijgemente, a* any m*tbod which boys and gtebi left te , themselves ever found cut. But when ua i presence of the party which long* te hare each a hand in the general pleasure, thi* basinet* becomes * long musical monologue, I f*ar the tioett m sic wjb not prevent the itting from Brewing wMruoma. The two Mary* would rather bav* sung their own ballad*, aud inad* littl* ran* into " taoe*," and tempted Henry and Bertie te let loo** the grumbling chorus of their adolescent voice*, than listened hour after hour to Lucy'* admirable playing. So they dropped off one by one to their own asnnse- Dieutt, he who held out loagett being gen- erally lt>rtie, who diaplayed an interest in music for which I wa* quit* unprepared. I confee* I thought there wai a great deal too much of it. Tor my own part, and by and bye came with the sno*t hearty ill-will to dialike, not only Beethoven, but osi hearty ill wi koven, but all hit tuneful brethren. I would rather have listened to a Uerman band outside th* win- dow than to the delicate inspiration* which cam* sweetly te my ear from a room un- used b\ us. where there wa* an organ and a nnrnber of other instruments, and which was called th* music-room, so much to that I still hold in distaste from thi* circnm- tauoe, and alway* shall, some of th* flueet music in the world. Clara. 1 sappese, was not present during that n*xt Jay's miuic. The two had gone out to see some of my poor friends in ths village a kindly errand for which they both bad a special vocation; bat that night and the next night th* music continued to be repeated. Mr. bsdgewick't engagement wai known te, and not very highly ap- proved by, the two Mrs. Croftoni; out they both began to look at i.ury with disapprove ing looks, b'aming her entirely, sail the went of women , I tupposs men an alow to I notice anything of th* kinc'. D*rw*nt never | found it out, could not pcrosiv* anything but comfort and satisfaction, aud wondered audibly what th* ladies w*r* all so qu jl ahjut. To tell ths truth, th* ladis* were 'etching a kind of domestic interlude. Wat it that the rath lover who had betroth- ed himtelf to a child had found in that nhild'i v*ry presence a more fit companion? Wai it that th* innooent. hapless romance was to die at a blow, and a different story nd th* record? Wa* Lucy contriving to displace th* simple littl* girl who was no match for her? And how long would it be before Clara took fright and found oat the reality of her position? These questions occupied us all without any communication petting bet ween us. I know we had all ths urn* feeling in different manifestations. Th* two Mr*. Croftoni sti!l talked to each other, aod Mary Portescue and I still kept ni> our usual conversation, but it wai ab- stracted aud languid ; while we all watch- ed, with an interest involuntary and womanish, the climax of this drama, which might possibly bs a tragsly for anything we could tell. Yet not a tragedy. Surely even if Mr. Sedgewick wa* that unworthy, my dear littl* Clara wa* too young for more than a passing heartbreak; but who could tell T On the foarth evening tliei e arose a fnrth- r complication. I had resolved by this time to make myself one of Lucy's audience, that Sedgewick'i fascination might at least be lees apparent ; and a* I stood by listen- ing, I saw him take up one of th* pieces of num.- which lay on the piano. He read the name on it with an exclamation of surprise. It ws* that of a littls ont-of-ths- wty German town. " Nobody ever goes thtre," said Mr Se'Jge ick, repeating toe name. " How I* it possible I could have forgot ? I met yon there?" Met me. Oh, very likely," laid Lucy quietly, having come to the end of her sonata. Ws used to wandsr about everywhere while poor papa wa* alive ; h* was an invalid and fanciful. I dare say every Englishman who has traveled on the Continent muet have me one time or another, and so I am never surprised wh*a I see a face which I remember again, I have thought I must have seen you somewhere since ever you oame to Hilfont; your face was quite lamilar to me." " It is five yean since I was there," laid Mr. Sedge wiok ;" could it be you? You must have been a child then." I was a littls old woman. I nsver was s child," said Looy; " I always had to take oars of paps. Oh, 1 hsvs some drawing* of hit you should see; but I dare say you are an artiit yourself. And they are chiefly of that dear old place. We did to enjoy the time we were there." " No English "' said Mr. Sedgewick, significantly. No English I ' taid Lucy ulapping her Ii anils at th* joke. " Oh, it was delightful. I remember it as if it were yesterday. Have you ever been in Bavaria, Mr. Nug- ent ?"ihe aaid breaking off to addrees Bertie. 4 " Never any where but in I'aris," taid Bertie, who was a littl* discouraged hy having hi* homk*eping held op to the geneaUl observation, but who, notwith landing, lik* all th* rest of the young fools, thought It vary grand and superior .o be able to congratulate one'i self on living n a place where there was " no English. [ f*ar Bern* would not have enjoyed that felicity, however, for the poor ln.y had no gift of tongues. "Oh, I must show you papa'* drawing* I I will rUk and get them ; It is so pleasant to talk to tome oie who knows the place," cried Lucy, turning to Mr. Sodgewick one* more. " And, beanies, I quite make a monopoly of the inutic, and Couiin Mary sings to iweetly. I am going to get papa's drawing!, Aunt Clare." She went away immediately, and return- ed in a few minatei with the portfolio. Mary Cro'ton, after a little pause, half affronted, y<* half pleased, took her plaos, and daubed off Into some noisy piece of loullos* music, under the influence of which everybody began to talk a* If for a wager, and which was loud enough to cover a dozen *eoret conversations. Not that Lacy condescended to any inch thing; on the contrary, the took her portfolio to a little table at- Mrs. Robert Crofton ' elbow, and spread It out there at though inviting any- | body who pleased to come ; and Mr. Sedge- ' wick, passing hy Clara with aa affectionate nod and whispered word, went to join her in the light of svsrybody. And thir : they remained talking and looking over th* drawings, animated, interested, and evi- dently pleated with each other, till th* p\rty broke u;. for the night. There was nothing whatever olandestin* in ths wholi affair ; sometimes l>erwent looked ov*r fleitg" trick's ihoulder, sometime! Mis. Robert, as):*) to tec one n. th* skeU-lien ; l.ut Hugh SL l,;-wick turned over all, band- ing over Item, recognizing the scenes, potatmg out :>>e particular beenUe* ; whds Lucy, on her part, expla'nsd asel rxptirasi- ed asking, " Don't yon rwmem!<- iruef " Did y*u not n-j th*re?" wlt:i the hvIWM interact. 1 th.uk I never *aw her to ani- mated. It wai a second *e*n* to ocr lil'Jolrrma, and in**iiibly every woman in the roonr kept easting ditbtsui look* at Lncy and her companion . The action threatened to beoome more rapid every moms-it, and the Interest deepsr ; whit* for the flnt Urn* Clara, lifting her pretty head from her embroidery, grew a liul* pale, ad won der*d in her tender littl* heart. One cloud ( the aba' le ef that si.rprise growing upon her surpn te with a 1 1 1 t'r involuntary pain in it nothing a* yet worth thinking of and I, who knew her f toe eo well, oould read there how the reproached herself immediately for that momentary pain, and explained to herself how natural it was that h* should look at Lucy' s drawing* a* well a* litteo te her music. And how had, and unkind, and nngratefsl it wa* of her, little Clara, to feel pained ! Yet ah* did glaac* toward* then to-night with a changed look. It wa* no longer admavatien fsr Lucy and pleaaure in aeeing Mr. Sedge- wick pleased. In spite of herself she still wosdered over it, and wa* a little, just a very littl*. chilled at her heart. I think, perh.pe, if Hugh Sedcewick had said, " Forgive me !" that night, at be did the first night, he might have got a different aniwer; bat I do not think be tried the experiment. I went in, a* wai my custom. te th* bed-chamber ef my two girls te bid them good night. I found them both very quiet; net exchanging confidences or antici- pation*, scarcely talking at all, preparing to go te sleep, and I went te my own bed with a tors neert. (TO BI OOXTIKVED.) COLD PLACES AND COLD DAYS. lelel* JesUnc* Frees Ike Domi.l.. Wca tk*r ***. By far the coldesi place in th* Dominion al which meteorological records are kept i* Fort Churchill. The next coldeet it Fort Chipewayan, but it* mean temperature u mor* than aleven degreee above that of Churchill. Churchill ii on Hudson's Bay, at the month of the Churchill river, in lati- tude 59 degrees north. The annual report of the Dominion Meteorological Mrvioe contains a let of statistics showing it* temperatures in 1889. February wa* th* coldest, August th* warmest month. The f eraser gave a mean temperature of 17.2) below aero, the Utter one of 53.5, or nearly equal te thai of May 1*4.4) at Mouiretl. ' August appear* te b* th* only month ex*ntpt from night froete it* lowest mean temperature having been forty-two degree* (on the 18th). A* late at July U7 and a* early as September 5 the mean temperature hovered dangcroualy near the froet line. On Jury 10 it was but two degree* above frsiting, on September 21 it dropped to freezing. Only fonr months, June, July, August and September recorded means above freezing, while April, May, October and November had to be content with mean* above xero. December, Jansary, February and March having means below sero. November had fifteen day* with means below xero. December had only one day (the 4th) with a mean above zero. January had twenty three dayt with mean* below ztro, February, twenty-five ; March fifteen and April tw*. The day* of low*st mean temperature* in th* various month* were August, 42 degrees, on l*lhj July, .'!.'.) on 10th; Jnn*, .11.5 on Bin; September, -Hi.S on :i')th; May, ZU on 8th; October, 4 Ion .list; April, 0.3 below zero on lit; November, 13. S on 25th; March, -'4. below on 14th; Decem- ber, 27.6 below on 29th ; Jannary, 95.5 be- low on 24th and February 37. 1 below on 21st. Thee* mean temperatures will be better understood when it is explained that the mean temperature of the coldest day at Montreal during the seven yean (1885 91) waa 17.6 below aero and the mean temperature of it* hotte*t day during th* aame period (July 4, 1887)79.3. Fort Churchill I mean temperature for th* year was eigh teen above xero. It* higheit temperature 78.5, its lowest 4.14 (brlow zero). It* mean winter temperature wai 9,1 below zero; it* mean spring tem- perature 30. 2 (two below freezing) it* mean lummer temperature 46.4 and it* mean autumn temperature 4.6 above sero. ike CanneUan lnf Frlemdi la One Way to Keep Cool. " I iuppo*e you would lik* to know how to keep cool these hot day*," taid a roan the other day. " Well,' I have, an unfailing recipe which can be guaranteed to *ff*ct th* desired result . I us* it myself, and know the system ii a specific for tsw woes which mankind suffers in inch dog-day* weather as ws are now experiencing. It is siii pi* and easy don't sat any msat until the sun goes down. I have made this an inviolable rule during hot weather, and a* a conee<|ueace I am never bothered about or by the condition of the atmosphere, no matter how high the thermometer may soar. Thl* morning for my breakfast I ate a piece of itrawberry ibortcake and drank a cup ot coffee. For luncheon I partook of tome lettuoe and tomato salad and a cup of tea. I will go in to dinner in a few moments and very probably will ordera thick, rare tteak, and pay pretty generoui attention to it. Then I will come out and for an hour or two will be probably uncomfortably warm for th* first time during the day. " I wa* led to adopt this nys'em from observing the immunity from suffering on account of the heat which the workmen in hot countries en j.iy. Thli wa* particularly th* caae in Spain and Italy, ami when I in- quired th* reason I was told that a Spanish or Italian workman would rather eat kero- sene with a wiok in it than meat of any kind daring the hot weather. I am act a vegetarian in any sente of the word, but I havs proven to my own satisfsctien that a diet such si I have suggested daring i he summer will preserve anyone who follow* it from lutl'tring in hot weather." The average density of population per acre in London i* 577, and the average death rate ii 23.. per thouaand. In *ome part* of Whilechapnl, in th* tenement region, the deuaity of population I* about 3,000 per acr and the death rate i* 41.4 per thouiand. e, IN MONTREAL AN INTEB VIEW WITH THE STEAM- SHIP PROMOTER. TM naaaolal Ontlee* IB Cr*a Britain n*w* l*s)M*al i Ail>tir servse* 4iraJlaa Line the 014 Laael. Mr. James Huddart reaoheJ Montreal the other morning from New York, having cone over to UtM prt in conference at Ot- tawa, aad to wtch the passage of the tut steamship subsidy bill through the) Houa* of Common*. Before com log to the matter to dear to hi* heart th* geoUemau in quee. HOD spok* a word or two a* to the financial condition of Great Britain, sod hi* ton* WM in a mod eneoaraging strain. " The tiaancia; uuilook," laid Mr. Hnddrt to a reporter, " ha* greatly improvsd lino* my arrival ID the old country few moathi too*. Confidence i* slowly yet surely re turning, and investor: are o n th* lookout for ure and safe project*, *f which th* Atlantis and Pacific steamship service will undoubtedly be one." Thl* led to the all important question M to the roam of Mr. Hadelart'i negotiations amongst Kngilsh capital!*!*, nd the ener- getic promoter spoke a* follow*: "Sine* I left Canada three month* ag* an educatien- al campaign ha* been constantly earned on, and with th* very beet reralta. In my opinion the very firet thing to do wa* to bring public opinion in Groat Britain, where NUk of tho oapital ha* to h* raised, to reali/.e th* untold advantages that will accrue in the empire from thi* undertaking, and I am glad to ty that our effort* in thi* direction bav* been crowned with the great**! possible euceeee. From wsk to weok ana from *a*t to weet public opinion ha* developed in favor of the sohem*. " "Did you meet with rruch oppoa.Uon t" aske.l the correspondent. 'No, tuere scarcely any tenon* oppos- ition to th* project in the British mind, and what littl* feeble diannttbat onsmeet* with ii plainly traceable to vested interest*, Canada, of course, muet lead," added Mr. Uuddart, "i practical organization cannot b entered upon until the Canadian Subsidy Bill become* law. A* 1 bar* jo*t intimated, the promoUn ha** not in th* meantime been idle." With reference to pejblic opinion in Can- ada Mr. Haddart ha* given th* question meet careful study, and 11 of the opinion thai a vast majority of th* busmea-i root of th*4bou>uuon favor the establishment of inch a line of aUamen u loon a* pouibl*. ' I bar* alto," h**aid "given the question of traffic clot* attention all through and I do net heeitat* to aey that the oomaany ill b* a profitable on* to it* bond holder*. A* the eabl*, no doubt, informed you, we kav* after two month* of very careful pre parastoo cent out the specification*, and I nay add that we n pert th* tenders in at Ottawa within th* next fortnight. Thee*. However, an not considered final, fnr th* promoter* feel that they malt take advan- tage of every how'* experience in the de- igning of ocean steamship* *o that the propoeed boat* may be eqaaf to any now on the Atlantic and far ahead ef Boat of them. I am very (trong on thii point," aai<{ the fact line promoter, " aad will ha v* nothing lo do with any project that doe* not offer Hanada a e*rviee of th* tint rank. The** boat* in faet mast be mad* to advertu* them*elvM. The (peoifioatioeu likewise provide that to* American law relating to steamships b* oompH*d with and n* doubt we will have a very large anmber of Amen M from Chicago, Minneapolis and other western ciuei uiing tint tin* to and from Europe, besides the anticipated stream of travel by onr through route from Croat Britain to Australia, which now goe* via the Suez oenaJ." The oorreipvndent here referred Mr. H if 1 Jar t u> a itatment in a Canadian paper to the effect that he had about given up hop* of receiving imperial aid . "On the contrary," h* quickly replud, "there i* alieady a itrong party in th* Brit- i*h Parliament, a* well asm financial circles, in favor of what i* called th* imperial route, and there can be littl* doubt that th* scheme will be supported by imperial uheidy and th* aame increased by our Australian mail lulmnly." With regard to the terminal port*, Mr. Huddart itated that at far a* thi* side was concerned the matter wa* aettlel in favor of Halifax and Quebec. On the other aide itetietie* were beiug taken, and the port will be choeen that give* evidence of the largeet earning power. Mr. Hu.l-! t al*o discassed th* probable attitude of Canada'* public men, stating that it wa* a question away above party and should have the tup- port of all lover* of their country, both in Canada and Australia. Th* pr*a of Great Britain and Aurtralia had already commit- ted itaelf to make Canada the alternative highway for p%a**ng*n anJ maiU. Mr. Huddart will retain in Canada about three or four week*. TORRENTS OF ELECTRICITY. Tkey ncen*1 >** a stersaleu <lkv and Mheek all rui.neld A Plaiu6*ld. N. J., despatch eaye; An electric phenomenon terrified the reiident* of thi* place on Tueiday evening. There were no itorm cloud* in th* tky. The air suddenly wa* filled with Hashes, which mapped and cracked around wire*, tree*, and persons on th* street. They felt a tingling, pricking Mutation all through their bodits. Then there came a terrific oraih, followed by a booming noise, like th* roar of gigantic cannon. Everybody not already on the streets rutheil from their houses, many tenanting in fright. The phenomenon appeared to be all over the city. Some people drclared that bolt* flashed from the eky into the tolid pave- ment. One bolt teemed to pat* into th* flagging in front of the Fint Presbyterian church, which ha* been twice (truck by lightning, and another into the walk in 'font of a drug store. No damage was don*, noept to th* nerves of the eTtixeni. No rain followed the discharge, and th* het continue* oppressive.