The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-10-10
An Admitted
Charge
BY LOUISE CARPENTER


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.
1--WE 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 marrying man."
mo man is 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 man, especially a 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 a wo.
man hater.''
'Then," said Miss Mathews, 'it 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"
II don't 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 since
he has avowed himself a woman hater,
which means that he doesn't care to
have anything to do with u.s."
"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.
mo, but May Farnsworth got it d.
rect from Betty Fiske, who knows him
very we'll"
"SuppOsing," Miss Gregory replied,
that we girls were jury to try Mr..
Edmonds on the charge Of being wO-
man hater, do you think the judge
would admit such evidence? II were
his counsel would show motive on
the part Of the girl who reported the
concession"
"What motiveT
"Why, don't know any better way
for her If she wants him herself to de-
stroy competition. Mind you, l 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 1t must be
so. 1t was finally agreed that no no
tice should be taken socially of Mr..
Edmonds until 1t was known whether
he was or was not a 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, was seen a 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. A conversa-
tion very like this was apt to follow;
"Im very glad to meet you, Mr.. Ed
monds but don't suppose you're glad
20 meet me-"
"Why?" was the surprised rejoinder,
Because l hear you are a woman
aater."
Mr., Edmonds knit his brows.
"Are you?"
"Yes."
After the question was thus put to
him six times, each time with sim
liar reply. the gentleman began an in
vestlgation 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 1t to
the accused.
Suddenly Miss Flske found herself
dropped by Mr.. Edmonds, and he show.
ed by his manner TO the girls who had
asked him about being n woman hatey
that he had no use for their society
However, there was one exception
Mr., Edmonds solicited an Introduction
to Miss Gregory and on obtaining II
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 qualification hate all womer
who are unwomanly. who are backbit
( ers and slanderers. who spread false
: reports and who believe anything tina
Is told them without an Investigation.
This Is all the gentleman said to th'
lady at the time. He remained fol
some time in the town and during thu
= period Of his sojourn layished upol
Miss Gregory every attention sh'
would accept, while to the others whC
had been implicated in the charg,
against him he showed himself all tina
o he had been accused Of being.
II do believe" said one of the con
lpirators to another in discussing tn
. matter, that Sue Gregory told hin
! the story herself, putting forward he
n defense of him and lashing the res