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‘4‘: , THE BATTLE WON. CHAPTER XXV. NICHOLs’ SCHEME A FAILURE. “Oh, look here, chuinmy, here‘s a letter for you 1” said Mrs. Redmond to Nessa one morning when they met in the breakfast room. Nessa took the letter and examined the outside curiously. She had never seen one like it before. the edges were gilt ; there was a coronct in the left-hand corner with a complicated monogram below, which was in itself as good as a conundrum; and it was addressed to Miss Viola. Dancastcr. “There’s no postage stamp. Do, you think its an advertisement?” she asked. “I That a question '. If . society, you would know better. Don't you see the coronet? It‘s from some person of title, of course." ' “Oh, I see 1 on a bottle of p are genuine !” “It’s horrid bad form to snccr at the aristocracy,” Mrs. Redmond observed, in a tone of disgust, as if her own position had been assailed. “Snecr at them 5” exclaimed Nessa. “I couldn’t. I love the whole ten thousand, especially when they send me such sweet little letters. How did it. come Y” lVith a pair of scissors she 0:11 the end of the envelâ€" ope and drew out the villclOSlll‘e‘nS she spoke. “I found it. in your bouquet. " “\Vhich ‘2” “The Blue and White.” The information was lost upon Nessa, Whose attention was concentrated in the diminutive sheet of crabhcd hand‘.‘.’riting. “It’s an offer of marriage '.‘ she'exclaimed, coming to the end. The coronct is like the label iclilismwithout which none “ ‘Haiid and fortune,’ she read going over it again he doesn’t say anything about his lic;.i't. and I cannot make out the man‘s name. lVliere did you say it. came from 2"” “The Blue and White bouquet. ; it fell out at my feet.” “Then it must be that dreadful young man in the box who makes such a noodle of himself every night. " “ I don"t know vhy you speak disrespect- fully of Lord Carickbairn It isn’t every girl in your. position who receives such a compliment from a Scotch peer." “But unfortunately hisnainc doesn’t pre- vent him being very silly. livery night he is there with his enormous bouquet, and I don’t think I can be accused of encouraging him.” “ If you came in the canteen like the rest, and weren’t such a. touch-nic-not young person he might expiess himself in some 1 other “‘2 7 What does he say?” Y ' «i. - 3 he h. nded the latter. one (lidn t know \ ther to laugh or be serious. In her heart she felt flattered, as most girls do by proofs of admiration, no matter how crazy the admirers show themselves to be. “ Fancy sending an offer of marriage in a bouquet 3” she muimured. “ h, my dear, I’ve had hundreds of them sent in that way. If I had accepted all the offersâ€"I mean some of the offersâ€"I might have had a title. He implores you to give him an interview. f course you will see him. ” , “ I shall do nothing of the kind,” Nessa replied, with quiet dignity. “ Good gracious inc ! Why not '2” “Because I don’t feel that I ought to.” “But don’t you see that this letter fixes him ‘2 his an offer of marriage’.”" "W - View. I don’t intend to marry.” has ever so much money.” “And ever so little brains.” Mrs. Redmond turned her shoulder im- patiently. : It was particularly small ;=‘ you had been inf 1 continued Nessa. after a moment’s reflection, I “and looking at it only from a. self-intei‘est- z ed point of view, why should I marry him or any one else? I don’t want ahusbaiid. All my heart and soul is in my business. I 3 couldn’t 'be bothered with him. I think ltliat is why I never feel in love with any .‘ single oneâ€"because all my feelings are t given to so many. I love all the audience, and my sole thought is to win their admira- 3 tion and receive their homage. It‘s the {passion of my life. If I heard that all Fniy fortune was lostâ€"gone foreverâ€"I shouldn’t feel one moment‘s regret, so far as \my own loss was concerned. And as for l} ‘ ' ii. I know none in the world thatl f \. tu d change for one generous outburst of applause ” ’ “That‘s all very fine for you, Redmond ; “but how about me? You mayn’t want money, but I do. You don’t seem to remember the sacrifice I’ve made, and all that 1' c done, to get you out of the scrape your ‘iri‘esistible impulse’ got you into.” She underlined the words with a sneer or whatever you like to call it. Nessa. was no longer under a delusion with regard to the sacrifice that had been made for her. She knew the woman, being brush a woman now. She believed still that Mrs. Redmond had saved her life, and in that, but nothing more, she felt indebted to her. For a moment she looked at this cmrsc, pretentious friend in silence with something like pity in her face, and flu n she said, in her low, calm tone“ “Yes, 1 do remember all "that you have done for me. But if I married Loid Carick- bairn to compensate you for saving ‘my life, you would be my debtor as long as I lived.” “Oh, I shouldn’t feel the debt much more than you do perhaps,” replied the lady, turn» ing away with a sniff of contempt and walk- ing out of the room. Nessa sat in meditation, with her hands folded in her lap until the door opeucd and Mrs. Redmond came in to look for some- thing. The expression of blank unconscious ness in her face indicated a settled determin- ation for the protracted sulk to which fatâ€" fair women of mean birth seem peculiarly addicted. “I have been thinking about what you said,” said Nessa, meditatively, still seatr ed with her hands in her, lap by the win- dow, “and it seems to me that 1 have done u ng in neglecting an opportunity of pro- viding for the fmurc simply because I my- self ft-el no need of money. I ought to‘have remembered how much your happiness de- pends upon it.” Here was a. surrender 3 Mrs. Rcdnmnd ‘ was so taken by surprise that she could do {nothing for a moment. But she forgot all about her sulk, and in the succeeding flush _ of exulta i0: ran to the girl’s side and cares~ sod her fondly. “You dear, unselfish, naughty little chunr lmy !” she exclaimed, with a kiss octwcen Teach word. “I knew you would see what ‘was square and straight. So you will see 1 Lord Carickbairn 3’” ' “ Oh, dear no, said Nessa, decided ; ' ”there was now need to think twice about ‘ that. It is my own fortune, not his, that I intend to secure.” : Mrs. Redmond’s caressing hand relaxed , and slipped inch by inch from Nessa’s neck fas she listened. i “There is a gentlemanâ€"a barrister or a judge, some one very powerful in the law-â€" fwho spade an ,of‘fer through Mr.- Fergus t-o gt ke up my case and protect my estate ” said Mrs. “The greater reason for refusing an inter-x: rom confiscation if I would accept his scr- _ . / f vices.” She narrated “\Vhat nonsense ! IVhy, he is 2- poor, and vhaf. had taken place ‘ on this occasion. “You never said a word about this to inc,” said Mrs. Redmond, sharply. “No ; as I declined to acknowledge that I was Vanessa Grahame I did not think it “But even if his wisdom were in propor- l worth while to m1]; about it.” tion with his wealth and position,” contini. ed Nessa, “I would not marry him.” “Why 1’” ' “Because I have not the slightest feeling of love for this gentleman.” “That means that you have for some i otherâ€"some fellow in the company, I sup- pose ‘3” Nessa was accustomed to rudeness fromj this woman ; but it was by an effort that . she replied, quietlyâ€" _ i “No, I have no love for any gentleman in ' the company.” “Then what difference does it make whether you marry Lord Carickbairn or not 7” “ I should think it would make a great deal of difference to him whether I loved] him or not.” “ Oh, that’s his look out. He doesn’t ask you to love him; he asks you to be his wife.” Nessa. made no reply. exasperated Mrs. Redmond. “ Look here,” ' she said, “you‘d better think this over. It’s a chance you may not get again. You think it will be all right when you’re twenty~one. “ But there’s many a slipâ€",’ you know ; and I bet ten to one you’ll never get a penny of your fortune â€"Redinond will find some means to do you out of itâ€"and then where will you be? After all, what are you? A favourite be. cause you’ve got good teeth and eyes and a. decent figure. But how long are you go- ing to keep your looks, and what will you be when you’ve lost ’em ‘3 A young woman who got her living by riding in a circus. Why, if a tradesman married you, he’d have to hush that up.” 4 “I could not have thought of a better} i l Silence always reason for not marrying Lord Carickbairn.” “ Oh, bother your stage answers,” said Mrs. Redmond, whose repartee was not of a delicate kind. what you mean “Yes, I daresay I can ifItry,” replied Nessa, pleasantly, her good nature over- coming a sense of irritation. “ I mean this : that when I marry it will be because I can‘t ’help marryingâ€"just from such irr'sistihlc impulse as has governed my actions always. ‘Nhen I feel that I mint marry, I shall marry; but not till then. liven then I may 1 not be right; but, surely, it will be better than to do that \ 'liicli I feel must be mg. It would be wrong to take advantage this offer that has been made me. Why ‘.’ \‘ihat does Lord Carickbairn know of me? Notli- ' ing but what he has seen under the lights of the show. He is pleased, like the rest of the crowd, with my eyes and my teeth and my figure, as you say ; but when he sees nothing in me to admire and recognises me only as a. girl who earned her livin in a circus, he will be heartily glad,” Mrs. edmond turned aside with an impatient exclamation, “that he is not obliged to own me for his wife. But quite apart from that consideration,” “ Can't you say plain out q!) “ \Vhy did you refuse '1” » .“ I did not think there was any necessity to take legal proceediinrs for one thing,” a“ j Nessa. replied. She might have added that :her chief reason was a wish to spare Mrs. Redmond the shame of having her husband’s villainy made public, but she kept that reason secret with pc ‘stent delicacy. “ It seemed to me iinpo: do that I could be robbed of my estate, but now that you tell me it is most probable that I shall lose all I feel that I ought to avail myself of this gentleman’s offer. 7’ “Vl’liat could he do?" “ I suppose he Would take action at once against Mr. Redmond for attempting to â€"to murder me. That, I am afraid, would necessitate your being called as a witness. But your evidence would surely convicthim, and secure the estate at once.” Mrs. Redincnd’s hand slipped from Nessa’s shoulder as if it had been a hand of lead. The prospect of being put into a witness- box to face her husband chilled her to the (narrow; for she knew that he would say, “ That woman’s place is here beside me, in the dock ; for it was she who planned the murder and did the work where my hands failed. She drugged the girl. Let the doctor be called to prove my words." The woman was panic stricken at the idea. “No, iioâ€"you mustn’tâ€"you mustn’t do that !” she cried, dropping in a chair. .Slie dared not look Nessa in the face for fear her own might betray her guilt and complicity in the attempted crime. “You mustn’t do that,” she repeated, with a. faltering voice ; “don’t take any notice of me. I’m upset. I can’t tell you why.” “The reason is clear enough,” said Nessa, kindly: “Mr. Redmond is still your hus- band.” “Yes, that’s it-â€"tliat‘s it, (lea-r little chummy,” the woman said, eagerly, catching at the excuse gratefully ; “he’s still my bus- band. I couldn’t give evidence that might ruin him for ever. You must forget what I said. I exaggerated. He couldn’t touch your estate. Promise me you won‘t speak to that manâ€"the Barrister or Fergus oi any- one about this. You won’t take legal pro- ceedingsâ€"promise inc. ” “With all my heart I give you the pro- mise. I have said already that, so far as I am concerned, I do not wish to take any steps against him.” “Thank you 3 Thank you, cliuinmy 1" said Mrs. Redmond, humbly, pressing the girl’s warm fingers in her cold, clainmy hand. CHAPIE XXVI. ANOTHER TRIClVII’I‘I. Si Mrs. Redmond knew that barrister well enough by reputation anu by sight. She had always feared and disliked him, and in stinctively felt that he disliked her. He had a way of piercing her with his eye with evi- m“ (lent enjoyment in the discomfort she ex- perienced. He seemed to be saying to him- self, “You’ve done something wrong in your time, my friend, and I’d get it out of you in five minutes if I had you under cross exam- ination 1” She dreaded him more than ever now, and if peeping through the curtained doors of the canteen she saw him in there she would abstain from going in. She sus- pected Nessa of secretly communicating with him. The discovery of her own com- plicity in Redmond’s crime must always be possible while Nessa lived. The fertile im- agination of Mr. Nichols could not have de- vised a stronger incentive to the fulfilment of his purpose. Meanwhile, week by week the greedy woman had to deny herself some luxury in order to send the five pounds to her husband. It. was now more than ever necessary to keep him out of sight, but she begrudged the money none the less that paid for his retire mcnt. The fear of justice \ 'as constantly on l or mind ; the necessity of scraping the weekly payment together continually pre- sented itself. The burden every day became more intolerable. And while existence for her was growing unendurablc, Nessa was finding fresh pleasures to add to her enjoy- ment of life. Nothing was wanting to stir up her venomous passion and goad her on to desperation. A new spectacle was prepared by the bal- let master, and put up for rehearsal after Christi me. As soon as the holiday audience began to fall off, the hem dings were placard- cd with new billssv OLYMPIC GAMES. rmzn or 0x15 HUNDRED POUNDS. “A prize of one hundred pounds is offered to any competitor who shall win the prize of Skill and Beauty in THE OLYMPIC a «use; broi‘naIlOii-al. ’l‘ho commotion is open to ev one without exception. submitting, of Hull] c. lo the same regulations observed by the paid members of the International (,‘onipany.” This aniiouncenicxw was flanked on each side by scrolls in blue and wliitcâ€"Nessa‘s well known colorsâ€"on which were printed, in large lettersw‘drene wins 1” “The company backs Irene (Miss Viola Daricastcr) against the whole world, for one hundred pounds at each representation. On the first Monday in February the spec- tacle was produced. Scene painters and car- penters had been at work for weeks, and during . '.day they had got up cloths and battens i. ..icligave to that part of the build- ing occupied by the audience the aspect of a Roman ainphithcatreâ€"nearly enough for an cntei'tainment 111 which anomalies and ana- chronisnis met you at every point. At one end of the auditorium half a dozen private boxes had been cleared away to make place for a flight of steps loading to the benches for the judges, above which rose a chair of gold for the Queen of Skill and Beautyâ€" something of mediicval custom being in- corporated into the Greco Roman medley. A lirrht barrier running round the whole arena enclosed a narrow space for the Greek audi- ence. The middle was occupied by a raised dais for wrest-ling and combats; the space between this and the barrier was divided into two courses bya- circuit of tripods, each eighteen feet high, garlanded together: the outer course for the horses;tlie inner one for chariots and pedestrians. At half-past seven every seat in the vast building was taken. Money was turned away at the doors, even for the private boxes. They had been secured by Nessa’s admirers and their friends long before, for it was known that something quite novel and original was to be produced. The show began with the entrance of a glgzgnsandalled and toga’d attendants with. lighted wands, who, passing ‘quickly round the course, lit up the censors on' the tripods, which threw up a blue flickering flame with good effect, the ordinary lights overhead being turned up simultaneously. A vener- able gate keeper, \‘ith a heavy bunch of keys, crossed the arena, and seeing the censors lit, slowly opened the arena gates. With a burst of joyous laughter and de- light, the Greek spectators rushed into the space reserved for themâ€"men, women, and children, old and young, in all sorts of classical costumeâ€"helter skelter; all eager to get a front place at the barrierâ€"some creeping under and crossing the arena. to get vacant places on the other sideâ€"a touch of realism being added by a father perch- ing his child on the edge of the boxes be- hind, and by some bare-legged youngsters climbing up and takin r possession of the marble balusters liehim the judge’s bench. “'hile the crowd is still streaming in there is a blare of martial music, and the soldiers ciitcr, causing the trespassers on the arena to scuttle off in search of a vacant place, to the loud mirth and derision of all those who are in e front row. The soldiers are a fine glittering throng, tolerably Greek in appearance, but carrying Roman standards and eagles and headed by a. band whose in- struments are unmistakably of the nineteenth century. They are followedby eight chariots bringing the judges, who, alighting at the steps, ascend to take their places on the benches. They are all equally venerable in the whiteness of their longbeards and flowing locks. Then comes the Whole stud of horses and ponies, each led by a properlyclassical groom but not mounted. The procession is closed by a motley crowd of gladiators, dancing girls, javelin men, wrestlers, and others ; and by the time the last man has entered, the band, having made the tour of the two courses, have taken their places on the raised dais, and the whole arena is full of glitter and colour. As the march ends, at the 'the spectators all round the arena. behind the barri r burst into a hymn. This has a. strik- ing e ect upon the real audience, who them- selves seem to be part- aiid parcel of the show. Meafiwhile, the soldiers, dispersing, take up position at regular intervals amon st the crowd within the barrier, their fixed gures and glittering armour standing out well against the varied colours of the hustling mob. The hymn is over, and the boys are shoving forward to see What is to come next. The pause is a fitting opportunityfor around of we l-carned applause ; for rubbish though it- may be, it is good rubbish as seen from the uncritical point of view of the ordinary spectator. The band descends from the dais, and Fergus enters on his thoroughbred in the correct riding costume of to-day. No en- treaties could persuade him to bind his brow with a wreath, and assume the chiton for this occasion. He dismounts and ascends the dais; he is goingto speak, and it is gene-rally believed that he has to announce that there’s a. hitch somewhereâ€"Viola Dan- caster indisposcd, or something of the kind -â€"and every one listens to catch his words. He begins by blowing his managerial trumpet modestly. and then informs the audience that certain envious detracters have spreadthe report that the races run in the Internatitnal have been “squared,” and that one of the objects the company had In company was entitled to take the prize of- view in the production of the new spectacle fered, yet the management felt that at such an enormous expense was to prove a race so nobly Won called for a signal mark of ap- that,‘though foreign. the company had that probation, irrespective of the winners posi- English love of fair play which has ever kept our national sports above reproach. (Loud applause from national sportsmen. He thereupon repeats, in the name of the management, the challenge already publish- ed in the newspapers and public announce- ments offering a cheque of one hundred pounds to any lady not engaged in the company who shall win the prize for skill and beauty. As none but ladies could compete, it would be taken for granted that all are l'ieautiful, so that the contest resolves itself into a- trial of horse» manship. The contest is open to all, subject only to such rules as were provided for the. safety of horse and rider. Douhtlcss amongst that vast audieice many profes sional ladies have been drawn here by cur- iosity or a spirit of rivalry, The cont t is open, to them as to all. Every facility will be given them by the attendants to leave their places and enter the arena, and be con chides by wishing that the best horsewomaii may win. The speech is received with enthusiastic applause, in which he remounts and rides out of the arena. In several parts of the milding there is a movement, and it is clear that some “outsiders” are determined to try for the £100. The excitement grows as the grooms lead out to the steps a string of twenty saddled horses. A Greek herald mounts the dais, and after , a flourish of tr unpets, delivers the challenge to the crowd of Greeks behind the barrier, who respond vociferously. One after the other girls slip under the barrier, and pre- sent themselvcs as competitors ; they are led up the steps to the judges, who present each with a bunch of colored ribbon. By the time they have taken their place on the dais, some ladies from the audience have come down into the arena. There are four of them. for them to put on the regulation costume. A chariot race between men fills up the in terim ; then the outsiders, coming down into to the dais. his challenge, whereupon a girl in pale blue, bordered with wiiite, who has hitherto been into the arena. A cry bursts from the crowd, and is echoâ€" ed by the audience above, as she is recognis- ed. “Irene ! Irene!” ShouttheGreeks. “Viola Dancasterâ€"that’s she 1” runs through the audience. The first race is run by the four outsiders alone ; the winner is led up Vie steps and seated in the golden chair above the judges. The next race is run hymembers of the coni- pany, and in this Nessa comes in victorious winning easily by two lengths. And now the prize is to be contested between the two winners-Nessa and the outsider who won the first race. Fresh horses are brought in, and the lady comesdown the steps. The band strikes up, and the enthusiastic G reeks strike up a. chant in honour of their favorite, the burden being, “ Our Irene wins I” The outsider mounts the mare led up to the steps; then d’Esperance is brought for- ward, and Irene takes the saddle. There is a discussion before the starting place, in which Fergus, who has entered the arena for this heat, takes part. W hat. is . ter? Clearly theoutsider is protesting in very vigorous terms. Every one in straining to catch the meaning of it. “ “ t .-ie won’t run I” “Look, she’s going to get off!” “There’s some (lodge of theirsslie‘s found out I” ”Some precious French trick or other!” “Oh, well, that shows it’s all a putup thing. These are the commentaries heard amongst the audience on every side. Something like a decided hiss of disapprohation succeeds the ominous whis- pering, when Fergus rides out into the middle, and all are hushed to hear his ex- planation. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he calls, “the lady who won the first raceâ€"the champion of the outsiders, as I may call her, although she is a lady eminent and well known' in our professionâ€"4efuscs to rim this heat on the mare provided for her. (Slight applause.) Undoubtedly that mare is inferior to the one allotted to our Miss Viola Dancaster. Un- fortunately we have no horseâ€"and it is doubtful if any existsâ€"to match Miss Dan- caster’s mount. But our Blue and lVliiteâ€"â€" our Irene would not be our Irene if she were not as generous as she is plucky. She has of- fered to change horses and run this race with her rival on the mare lter ri val has refused, and we, in the interest of fair play, have consented.” “Irene wins !” shoutedfitn excited young gentleman from his box ; and then followed such a burst of applause as Nessa dismount- ed and gave up (l’Esperancc to her rival, that the very place shook to the storm. There was a fair start, but it became obvious in the first lap that Nessa was to suffer defeat at last. Mrs. Redmond, though she took no part in the contest, scarcely breathed for the choking sense of exultation as she saw the distance widening between the two riders. There was an unusual and ominous silence as Nessa passed the starting place on the second lap a length behind. But she never lost courage. The mare she rode was the second best in the stud, and had carried her home in triumph many a time. She hoped to recover the lost ground in the next two laps, and, sparing the whip, cried with cheerful en- couragement to her mare. Suddenly it became noticeable that the outsider was losing ground ; and so she was. But it was no fault of hers : (l’Esperance had heard Nessa’s voice behind, and become conscious that she was not in the same hands. As she slackened, her rider applied the whip, and the high~tempered animal, who never felt the Whip from N essa’s hand, resentin the treatment, swerved from her course an slackened still more. Only when Nessa’s mare was neck and neck with her in the third lap, and she was fired to her duty by the roaring of the audience, now mad with excitement, she recovered her temper, and struck out to win. But it was too late they were close to the winning post, and there was no time to get the pace, and for the first time in her record d’Esperance came in second. Mrs. Redmond bit her lips through-iii her vexation, and Fergus himself was astounded Daprez beckoned him from his box, and o. few hurried words were exchanged as the audience thundered peal after peal of ap- plause. Fergus once more rode into the middle” hashing the tumult. He said that, although no member of the They receive favours from the judges ; but instead of going directly to the dais, they retire to a dressing room prepared the arena in costume, with their colors, are greeted with a shower of applause, and led Once more the herald delivers lost in the crowd, passes under the barrier at the further end of the arena, and walks tion, and he knew that he should be only responding to the wish of all there in pre- senting to Miss Daiicaster the cheque that had been drawn for a successful" rival. \Vith that he rode across and presented Nessa with the cheque. Nessa, less conscious of her own triumph than of her ri 'al’s defeat, wi‘hout a mo- ment’s hesitation, and absolutely forgetful that she was under the observation of a mul- titude, turned her horse and put the cheque iii the hand of the outsider. “It’s yours 1” she said. “You’d have won if D’l‘lspcraucc had not heard my voice.” “ ’iy Jove, I’ve heard you are a lady : now I know it E” cried the wow-an, who, being a professional, had no false delicacy about tak~ ing the gift; but she knew how to make generous acknowiedgment, and, toucliin D‘l‘lsperance with her heel, she trot ted round p the ring, holding up the cheque that all might see the use Nessa had made of it. Nessa was lifted from her saddle, arrayed in a jewelled robe, crowned with olive, and led to the seat of honour with the band and the throng outvying one the other in he: honour. “Byâ€" 1 she shall be dragged down from that I” muttered Mrs. Redmond, wi’h a furious imprecation. (T0 Bic cumin: :0.) - xâ€"Q- Bi" E‘s New ‘1‘: President Fonseca and his got crnmenl have favored the people of Brazil with an outline of the constitution according to which they propose to govern the country. This draft law, published by decree, is pro visionally binding on the Brazilian peoplé until it is amended or repealed by thé Congress which is to meet on Nov. l5. In" its leading features the new con tituticn re- sembles quite closely'tlic organic law of the United States. Like that inst um nt it provides that the Congress of the Dr .lian Union shall have authority to i. the lr‘cdcral expenses, to contract a national debt and provide for its payment, to reguv late international and interbtate cmnz";erce to levy duties on foreign goods imported to impose a stamp tax and postal dues, and to control the coinage. But like the American law, the Brazilian gives Congress excli .ive control of the telegraphs, and exuusive authority to establish banks. It also stipulates that the executive shall not (1 clare war or conclude a treaty of peace without the authority of Congress. More- over, it diffc‘s in limiting the presidential term to six years, and denies that officer rc-election. Cabinet ministers are no responsible to the people’s represen- tatives, nor are they eligible for the of- fice of President or Vice l‘rcsident. Judges, Federal and State, are ap- pointive, and are to hold office di.. ig life or good behavior. La passed ;y the National Congress, like a hill Pas =d by the British Parliament, become ipsojlli'fo . part of the Constitution, and cannot be dc lured invalid by any other authority. There is a clean out between Church and 5 ate, the framers of the new constitution evidently de- siring to have a purely secular govei iiiiicnt. Civil marriages are to be CO]l’ip‘.ll${““ ; no Church is to receive any subvention from the State ;no cemeteries are to be. cont led by any religious sact ; no religious teat .g dilution. lll vs is to be permitted in the public sch . no Jesuit is to be suffered to reside in II t, un- restricted by the abilitylto read and write. Soldiers and clergymen are alsodisfranchised. Considering the fact that the govci‘iniient _ owes its existence to the army, this is an astonishing provision. These are the main features of this draft organic law, which, of course, will have much flesh placed upon the skeleton when the work of confirming or modifying comes before the Congress, elect- ed on Nov. 15. How far the law will re- tainitsoriginal features after pas-sing through the impendin .- ordeal, it is impr Bible 10 say. Should the so diers take offence at the way in which their services have been rewarded, and the priests throw in their influence against the government, as they are almost sure to do, it is more than probable that many important and radical changes will be made. _â€"+â€"__ A Ship Railway. If to discuss were to act the novel spec- tacle (to Canadians at least) would soon be witnessed of an ocean steamship, fully freight-ed, being conveyed across the country from Lake Ontario to the Georgian Bay. A ship railway is the latest scheme talked of among practical engineers, who claim that the plan is perfectly feasible and that by the expenditure of $12,000,000 the idea could be realized. Three tracks of the ordinary gauge, laid side by side, would be required. At each end of the road lift locks would be constructed to place the vessel on the carri- age, while four turntables at certain points along the route would enable vessels to pass each other. It is estimated that three locomotives would be sufficient to trans- port a. vessel of 2,000 tons weight, including vessel and cargo, or more than 1,000 tons register at the rate of ten miles per hour or seven hours for sixty- six miles. Were the project carried out it would save 428 miles of lake navigation and 28 miles of canal between Chicago and Mon- treal, enabling a propeller from Chicago to reach Montreal or even Quebec before if could reach Buffalo, and save at least three days between Chicago and the Atlantic sea board. Besides, it could hardly fail to divert much of the traffic from the railways operat- ing, in the Northwestern States to Canadian lines, seeing that the route would offer facili« ties for the movement of freight incompar- ably superior to. those through American territory. The scheme will probably be brought before the attention of the Domin- ion parliament next session, when it may be expected a more detailed explanation will be made. Meanwhile, the old project of a Huron~Ontarfl Ship Canal is abandoned, as being less practicable and twice as expensive as the ship railway. The Largest. Boiler in the “’urld. What is described in an American mechan- ical journal as the largest boiler ever built was tested a. week or two ago at one of the electric-lighting stations in New York. It is said to be encased in a vertical shell 5} inch thick, and to contain 600 tubes, each of which are 3 inches in diameter. The length of these tubes if stretched out would reach 7200 feet, or very nearly 1% miles. The whole boiler contains 6000 square feet of heating surface, and is of lOOO horse power. ' try, and nonew gonve‘nt or monastic order, Vo‘be‘fo'unded. The Fight of franchise is I