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

1t in Its perfect proportion that even
dun and stupid people-and none of
these were that-felt its overpowerlng
presence. Meade and the girl stopped
too. After one glance at the bridge.
she looked at him. And that was typ
lcal. For the first time he was not at
the moment aware Of, or Immediately
responsive to, her glance. And that,
too, was typical. She noted this with
a p ang of Jealousy.
"You love the bridge" she said
softly.
He Strengthened up and threw his
head back and looked at her.
81 thought So" he said simply-"un-
til today, but now"-he stopped again.
"But nOw?" she asked.
Il have just learned what love really
Is and the lesson has not been taught
me by bridge" he answered directly.
Yet Bertram Meade, the younger, did
truly love the bridge which he had
seen grow from the placing of the first
ShOe-the great steel base on top of
the pier which carries the whole struc-
ture-tO the completion of the soaring
Cantilever reaching out to meet its
companion on the other side-the great
International, which was to be the tie
that bound, with web Of steel, two
great countries which lay breast to
breast; already in touch save for the
mighty river that flowed between them.
BY no means would Meade, the
younger, have been charged with the
great responsibilities of the bridge had
it not been for his exhaustive prepara-
ton and wide experience. To a thor
ough technical training at Harvard, in
the Lawrence Scientific school, had
been added substantial record of
achievement. A fine bridge which he
had erected in faraway Burma, trium-
phantly achieving the design despite
all sorts of difficulties, had attracted
the attention of old Colonel Hing
worth, the president of the Martlet
Bridge company.
He had kept the young man under
his eye for Il long time. When he COM
missioned his father, Bertram Meade,
Sr., to prepare the plans for the great
International, the mOst-sought-for and
| famous of bridges, he had noted with
satisfaction that the older man, who
stood first among bridge engineers on
the continent, had associated with him
self his son. Meade, Jr., had recently
returned from South America, where
he had again shown his mettle. The
two worked together in the preparation
of the designs for what was to be the
crown and triumph of the older mans
| life, the most StupendOus of all the
cantilever bridges in the world.
The great engineer had high idea
of his only sons ability. He was will
ing to proclaim 1t, to maintain 1t, and
defend it against all comers except
himself. When the two wills claShed,
he recognized but one way, his own.
( The relations between the two were
| lovely but not ideal. There was lead
| erShip not partnership, direction rather
! than cooperation. The knowledge and
experience of the boy-for so he loved
/ to call him-where of course nothing
/ compared to those of his father. When,
in discussing moot points, the younger
man had been uncOnvinced by the cal
culatiOnS of the elder, he had been
laughed to sCOrn in gOOd-natured
way. His carefully set forth Objec,
tionS even in serious matters, had been
overborne generally, and by trium-
phant calculations of his own the fA-
ther had re-enfOrced himself in his con-
clusions; and the more strongly be-
cause of the opposition.
Young Meade's position was rather
anomalous. He had no direct super
vision of the construction. He was
there as resident engineer representing
his father. He had welcomed the posi-
ton because it gave him an opportu,
nifty to see from the very beginning the
erection of what was to be the great.
est cantilever bridge the feet of the
world had ever trOd upon, the wheels
Of the world had ever rolled across
He had followed with the utmost
care, constantly reporting the prog
ress to his father, every step taken
under the superintendent Of Abbott
a man of great practical ability as an
erector, but of much less capacity as
a scientific designer or Office engineer
Meade had watched it's daily growth
with the closest attention. Like every
other man in similar case, the work
had got into his blood. 1t had become
part of his life. He loved the bridge
yet more he loved Helen Illingworth