Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1913-11-08
An Admitted
Charge
By LOUISE CARPENTER

Miss Mathews tea" was in session.
and the young ladies who had met for
the mental improvement TO be gained
by an exchange of ideas having ex-
hausted the topics the 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 that has come to this town
in years"
And | have heard" said Miss Ather-
ton, that he's not n 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 matrimony as we girls
do. because a man. especially a young
man, is not ambitious to take are 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. 1T 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 dom see said Miss Gregory,
that there is any necessity to show
the gentleman that we don't wish to
have anything to do with him siuce
he has avowed himself a woman hater,
which means that he doesn't care to
have anything to do with US"
That's inst like you. Kit" put in
Miss Britton You're always on the
off side
How do you know that he is a We
man Halter: nid You hear him say
sof' Miss Gregory asked
NO, but May Famsworth got it di-
rect from Betty FisEe who knows him
very we'll
"Supposing." Miss Gregory replied
that we girls We're a jury to try MI
Edmunds OH the charge of being a w0-
man hater do YOU think the Judge
NOAAu utAlhiiA NNtAl " titANNt II were
his counsel | would show a motive on
the part of the girl who reported the
confession"
What motiveY'
why, | don't 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 Illustration"
1t looked for 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 woman hater.
Then the young ladies separated. each
and 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 Fiske. who had
spread the charge wa seen great
deal with Mr. Edmonds. Then the
conspiracy broke apart. and each of
the Young ladies OF the tea party man
aged by hook or crook to make Mr.
Edmonds acquaintance. \ conversa-
ton very like this was apt to follow:
I'm very glad to meet you Mr. Ed
monds, but I don't suppose you're glad
to meet me.
'Why?" was the surprised rejoinder.
Because | hear you are a woman
hater"
Mr. Edmonds knit his brows
Are yOu?"
eyes"
After the question was thus put to
him six times, each time with 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
ed by his manner to the girls who had
asked him about being a woman Halter
that he had no Use for their society
However there was one exception.
Mr. Edmouds solicited an introduction
70 Miss Gregory and on obtaining it
said
81 have understood that ] have adj
mitted myself t. joe q halter If women
and / have admitted the fact Bot
there are few statement. that do not
need q qualification hate al. women
who are uaWomanly who are lacGbt-
IFS and slaulerer-. who spread false
reports and who believe ANYTHING that
is toid them without au Investigation 90
This is III. tie gentleman ~ad 10 tine
lady at tho time lIe remained for
soue time j0 tle town and during tb"
period of bis soogru laVi~hDd upon
Miss Gregory every attention Size
would accept. while to tine others who
had been implicated in she charge
against h!m be showed himself all that
be bad been accuscd II being