Evening star., 1923-04-04
STAR WASHINGTON, D. c. WEDNESDAY,
THE HOUSE OF MOHUN
BY GEORGE GIBBS
Author Of youth Triumphant" and Other Suceesse
Copyright, ls2a. D. Appleton 3 Go.


those of her new struggle for exist
ence. She knew now that any enort
to bring her mother TO her senses
would be 'wasted-waves OF appeal
dashing against the, rock OF Aheia's
But from her new. rough contacts
with the world she had now learned
the meaning OF Davld's phrases-she
knew what he meant by the game.
And so, after a while, she sought out
Dad" she announced, .cheerfully.
I'm going to work"
Jim Mohuu LAID aside his pen and
turned slowly IN his chair. He was
silent for noment regarding her
then changed her mind, For the
flicker of the smile at his lips meant
something else when associated with
the sudden brightness of his eyes.
"Ah" he satd, quietly. When did
you decide tflat?"
"Today-this morning-now. You
know I've been trying for weeks to
get homething worth while TO do
something that would really help out
when the money Is gone, but guess
I'm a diver"
An then in detail for the first time
she told him all her experiences. He
listened, making no comment, frown
ing slightly from time to time as
though finding difficulty in mental
concentration. When she finished he
took up his extinguished cigar and
stuck match.
And now. my, dear-?" he asked.
"a job l was, offered at Stacy &
maybe fifteen later"
Doing. what2"
Modelling for 'misses' dresses
and between times tying pack
"NodaIipar
"Oh, 1 just walk up and down the
aisles In the young ladies' department
exhibiting waists and summer frocks.
I've got to start in at something.
That's all I'm fit for. It's taken me
six months TO find that out. But /
know now
My dear. child sit down. want
TO talk to you. You've been worrying
me a great deal. I've had you on my
conscience"
Il feel that owe you a great debt
for the LESSONS ] didn't teach you
while you were growing to woman
hood-lessOns that 1 had 1earned-and
forgotten"
He puffed a moment on his cigar
contempiatively.
Il wonder whether you remember
how IT was in the old days at Leiper-
vile before we came to New York.
with your arithmetic"
Yes. Dad" she laughed. And I've
never learned anything since"
You remember the problems about
how much stone it would take to
build barn, the wallpaperlng prob
lems ms that you never could get!
Those were great days. We were
happy as bugs in a rug. What a
pity"
He was silent moment. That's the
nlot,
each other-when they're poor. when
l made money I let you get away
from me. let your mother turn you
over to, a lot of strangers Oh--it
wasn't her fault more than ii was
mine. When ] got richer I didn't
have the time to give to you. I KEEP.
on growing further and further away
from You and Bob----I didn't realize it
Weeks used to pass, even before you
,yn,,i,n:' went to boa boarding ling school when
must have loved each other just as
much only we didn't have the chance
to show it."
'.oh. Dad. I always loved you"
He bent his head and closed his
And then one day-I woke up--the
day you went on that ride with San
gree. 1t all came over me In a food
the damage I'd done you in not being
by you. watching your education.
all came TO me. that Sunday-but it
was too late. I knew then that Mo-
hun IL Co. were doomed: that all the
things you and Bob were accustomed
to would be taken away from you.
OF course. l didn't know that I was
going to be sick and l thought that /
could pull something out of the
wreck. But the worst happened"
"Oh. don't. Dad Please"
I'm coming to what l wanted to
say It's this. No one has a right to
bring children into the world unless
he fits them TO win their way alone
and unaided-girls more than boys
The higher the type of character. the
greater the obligation. 1 could have
done a great deal with you, Cherry.
You had talents. You had good
mind-too good a mind to be salts.
fed with the things you did-just be-
cause other girls we're doing them
silly things, foolish habits. reckless
ness, 'carelessness of public opinion.
But ! was weak. ] listened to your
mother, l just let things drift. l
didn't realize how little you knew
how helpless you would be unless
you married-if anything happened.
Well 1t did happen. Do you think
you can ever forgive me?"
= She causht hts hand and kissed 1T
Won't have you blaming your
for anything, I'd have made good
anyway. =.
good. my -'oear." he said gently.
II don't understand"