The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1913-11-28
An Admitted
Charge
By LOUISE CARPENTER

by an exchange of ideas. having ex
hausted the topics tke young hostess
had laid out for them. descended at
once to ordinary conversation, which
in common parlance means gossip.
I've heard" said Miss Phillips. that
this new arrival Mr.. EdmondS. is the
best catch chat has come 10 this town
in years
and | have heard" said Miss Ather-
ton, that he's not marrying man."
mo man is a marrying man." re-
marked Miss Gregory, ''unless he be
tired Of single life and hunting home.
Men don't seek natrlmony as we girls
do, because Il man. especially Il young
man. is not ambitious to take care of
some one We. on the contrary must
look out for ourselves. Which one of
you is willing to be an old maid?'
But I've heard" Miss Atherton
went on. that Mr.. Edmonds has eX-
pressed himself openly as being wo-
man hater"
Then" said Miss Mathews. lit is
our duty to give him to understand
that we don't wish to have anything TO
do with him. What do you say. girls
Il don't see said Miss Gregory,
that there is any necessity 10 show
the gentleman that We don't wish to
have anything TO do with him since
he has avowed himself a woman hater,
which means that he doesn't care to
bo IL. Il VIII In i1S. -
That's just like you, Kit" put in
Miss Britton. you're always on the
off side"
"How do you know that he is a wo-
man hater: Did you hear him say
So:" Miss Gregory asked.
NO but May Farnsworth got it di-
rect from Betty Fiske, who knows him
very we'll"
"Supposing." Miss Gregory replied,
that we girls We're a jury to try Mr.
Edmonds OH the charge of being n wO-
man hater do you think the judge
would admit such evidence? If / were
his counsel | would show a motive on
the part of the girl who reported the
confession"
what motive:"
why. | uont know any better way
for her If she wants him herself to de
stroy competition. Mind you. | don't
accuse her of intending to do so. |
only use the point as an illustrations"
1t looked for a time as though the
matter would be dropped, but another
girl had heard the same report, and
, the majority admitted that it must be
so. 1t WAS finally agreed that no no
tice should be taken socially Of Mr..
Edmonds until it was known whether
he was or was not a woman hater.
Then the young ladies separated, each
ana every one except Miss Gregory.
who was not in sympathy with the
rest, resolving that she would find out
for herself whether the charge was
correct
1t was not long before it was no
ticed that Miss Betty tiske, who had
spread the charge, was seen Il great
deal with Mr.. Edmonds. Then the
conspiracy broke apart and each of
the young ladies Of the tea party man
. d-th ~ HUM ~ 'Ibph " HilRt w
Edmonds' acquaintance. y convcrsa-
ton very like this was apt to follow:
I'm very glad to meet you, Mr.. Ed
monds. but l don't suppose you're glad
to meet me-"
why" was the surprised rejoinder.
hater."
Mr.. Edmonds knit his brows
"Are you:'
yes"
After the question was thus put to
him six times, each time with n sim
liar reply. the gentleman began an in
vestigation as TO how the report about
him came to be circulated. One of the
girls present at Miss Mathews tea"
had given an account of the discussion
to her mother, and that lady gave it TO
the accused
Suddenly Miss Fiske found herself
dropped by Mr.. Edmonds. and he show
Ell 10y his manner to the girls who had
asked him about being a woman hater
that he had no use for their society.
However, there was one exception.
iIr. Edmonds solicited an introduction
to Miss Gregory and on obtaining it
said
II have understood that / have ad
mitted myself to be hater of women.
and | have admitted the fact. But
there are few statements that do not
need Il qualification. l hate all women
who are unwomanly. who are backbit-
eIs and slanderers. who spread false
reports and who believe anything that
is told them without an investigation"
This is all the gentleman said to the
lady at the time. He remained for
some time i'm the town and during the
period of his sUjourn iavished upon
Miss Gregory every attention she
would accept. while to the others who
had been implicated In the charge
against him he showed himself all that
lie had been accused Of being.
Il do believe" said one Of the con-
Sprators TO another in discussing the
matter, that Sue Gregory told him
the story herself, putting forward her
defense of him and lashing the rest
of rs"
A year later, when the engagement
between Mr. Edmonds and Miss Greg
ory WAS announced all the girls agreed