The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1917-03-29

YES" said the colonel, but we
don't want our experiment to fail in
this instance"
"They won't" said the young man
boldly.
He had long since persuaded himself
that he had been all wrong and his
father all right, so that he entered
upon his defense and the defense OF
the bridge with enthusiasm. He was
ready to bre ak lance with anybody
on its behalf"
"Well," began the colonel, 1--WE have
every confidence in your father and In
you. l don't mind telling you, Meade,
it need not go any further, that when
this bridge is completed we shall be
prepared to make you personally
very advantageous offer for future re-
latiOns with the Martlet comp any if
you care to accept it. On the strength
of your probable acceptance we are al
ready planning to venture into certain
foreign fields which we have hitherto
not felt it to our interest to enter"
"That is most kind of you, Colonel
IllingwOrth," said the young man CRATE
fully, "and it appea ais to me very
strongly. l have been associated with
father latterly. He wants TO retire
with the completion of this bridge, and
before | open any Office of my own l
should like the advantage of further
experience. Such a connection as you
propose seems.to me to be ideal, from
my point of view. No man could have
any better backing than the Martlet
Bridge company"
"Well, we shall look to you to be
worthy of it," said the colonel kindly.
His glance vaguely comprehended
his daughter as he spoke. Colonel
Illingworth was a very rich man. The
Martlet Bridge company was nearest
his heart, but he had many other in
terests. His only daughter would event
ualy be the mistress Of Il great for
tune. Meade was not poor. OF course,
his means were limited compared TO
Colonel Illingworths great fortune, but
what he had earned, saved, and invest
ed was sutficient-yeS, even for two.
And he would inherit much more. Old
Meade had not been the greatest engi-
neer of his generation for nothing. In
dependent and self-respecting young
Meade could not be considered for
tune hunter by anybody. He was the
kind of man to whom u decent father
likes to intrust his daughter. Old
Colonel nlingworth found himself gaZ'
ing wonderingly at the two.
After dinner the men sat out on the
observation platform with their cigars
and coffee. For those that liked II
there was something in tall glasses in
which ice tinkled when the glasses
were agitated, but Meade declined all
three.
"With your permission sir" he said
"T am going to take Miss Illingwortf
out on the bridge. The moon is rising
and"
"I have heard so much about 1t,
said the girl, standing by the door
81 want to see 1t when the wOrkmer
are all off and it is all quiet, in the
moonlight"
Every well. You had better change
your dress, Helen, before you co." sale
the colonel, turning to Abbott and en-
gaging him in conversation on techni
cal matters.
"Tll wait for you at the front dool
of the car" said the engineer, his hear
beating like pneumatic riveter anC
sounding almost as loud in his ears
"I won't be long," she whispered a.
she left him.
Helen did not want to waste timt
any more than Meade did. So, insteaC
Of taking her fathers advice, all sh,
did was to cover her beautiful shOul
ders with flight wrap and hasten t,
the car door in the. shortest possible
time. Every moment they were apart
since the sum-tOtal In which they coul,
be together was so small w03 a mo
ment lost.
"Now," she said, coming out of tn
door of the car and descending tn
steps toward him, eagerly expectant
81 want prize for my swiftness."
"a prize!" returned the man, "why
you've been gone years, and yO1
haven't even changed your gown. YO1