The Madison journal., 1917-03-03

i'tI-'lt tA'Ailttl!i~. - tIIItt-DbFilt WIS
II in itS perfect proportion thar even
du.i and stupid peupI,-uud none of
th"S" We're rhat-felt its ovcrpowyriu-
presence. Meade and the glrl stopped
too. After one glance NJ the bridge,
she looked at him. And that was typ
zeal. For the first time ne was not al
IN" moment aware of. or Immediately
Responsive to. her glance. And that,
too, was typical. She noted this with
panG of jealousy.
"Iou love the bridge" She said
softly.
He Strengthened up and threw his
head back and looked at her.
Il thought So" he said SimpIy-"un-
I'll 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 10 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
1t not been for his exhaustive prepara-
ton and wide experience. To thor
OuSh technical training ut Harvard. in
the Lawrence Scientific school. had
been added substantial record of |
achievement. A fine bridge which he /
lad erected in faraway Burma, trium- |
Dhantly achieving the design despite !
Ill sorts of difficulties. had attracted |
he attention of old Colonel Hing /
worth, the president of the Martlet |
Bridge company.
He had kept the young man under
lis eye for long time. When he COM
niSSiOned his father, Bertram Meade,
'r., To prepare the plans for the great
International, the mOst-SOught-fOr and
amouS of bridges. he had noted with
that the older man. who
TODD first among bridge engineers on
ne continent, had associated with him
elf his son. Meade, Jr., had recently
eturned from South America, where
e had again shown his mettle. The
wo worked together in the preparation
l the designs for what was TO be the
rOWn and triumph of the older mans
fe. the most stupendOus of all the
antilever bridges in the world.
The great engineer had a high idea
his only sons ability. He was will
~ To proclaim ii, TO maintain it. and
efend it against all comers except
imself. When the two wills clashed.
recognized but one way, his own.
he relations between the two were
vely but not ideal. There was lead
ship not partnership. direction rather
IAN cooperation. The knowledge and
iperlenCe of the bOy-fOr so he loved
call him-where of course nothing ;
To those of his father. When.
discussing moot points, the younger {
an had been uncOnvinced by the cal [
IlatiOns of the elder, he had been I
ughed to scOrn in a good-natured
ny. His carefully set forth obiec-
ms, even in serious matters, had been Il
erborne generally, and by trium- a
ant calculations of his own the IA h
er had REINFORCED himself In his con- b
lsions; and the more strongly be- l.
use of the opposition. d
Young Meade's position was rather
omalous. He had no direct super- Il
non of the construction. He was s.
ere as resident engineer representing II
father. He had welcomed the posi-
n because it gave him an opportu- N
Y to see from the very beginning the Ii
.ction of VIII was to be the great
cantilever bridge the feet of the p,
rid had ever trod upon, the wheels
the world had ever rolled across te
had followed with the utmost
e, constantly reporting the prog M
IS to his father, every step taken 81
Ter the superintendent of Abbott eN
nan of great practical ability as an m
ctor, but Of much less capacity as gC
cientitic designer or Office engineer. W
ade had watched its daily growth us
h the closest attention. Like every
er man in similar case, the work m
got into his blood. 1t had become NJ
art Of his life. He loved the bridge:
more he loved Helen nlingworth. pl
CHAPTER n.