The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-01-31
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 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 man, especially 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 Anterior
went on, that Mr.. Edmords has ex-
pressed himself openly as being wo-
man hater."
Then" said Miss Mathews, ut is
our duty to give him to understand
that we don't wish to have anything to
do with him. What do you say, girlsyH
IL don't see," said Miss Gregory,
shat 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 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
OF side"
"How do You know that he is wo-
man hater2 Did you hear him say
soa" Miss Gregory asked.
"No, but May Farnsworth got 1t d.
rect from Betty Fiske, who knows him
very well"
Surprising" 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 a motive on
the part OF the girl who reported the
confession"
~What motiveT
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. I
only use the point as an Illustration"
1t looked for time as though the |
matter would be dropped, but another
haA arA fhe
the majority admitted that 1t must be
SO. 1t was finally agreed that no mo-
tice should be taken socially of MIR. |
Edmonds until II 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
It was not hong before 1t was mo-
ticed that Miss Betty Fiske, who had
spread the charge, was seen great
deal with MIR. Bdmonds. Then the
broke apart, and each of
the young ladies Of the tea party man
aged by hook or crook to make Mr..
Edmonds' acquaintance. A converse
ton very like this was apt to follow:
I'm very glad b meet you, Mr.. Ed
monds, but don't suppose you're glad
10 meet me-"
"Why" was the surprised rejoinder.
because I hear you are q woman
hater."
Mr. Edmonds knit his browa
"Are your"
eyes,
After the question was thus put to
him six times, each time with a sim
liar reply, the gentleman began an In
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
10 her mother, and that lady gave 1t to
The accused
Suddenly Miss Fiske found herself
dropped by Mr.. Edmonds, and he show
ed by his manner to the girls who had
n ked him about being a woman hater {
that he had no use for their society. ]
there was one exception.
Mr.. Edmonds solicited an Introduction
DO Miss Gregory and on obtaining 10
said:
-I have understood that I have sd-
mitted myself to be hater Of women,
and / have admitted the fact But
here are few statements that do not
need qualification. hate all women
who are unvomanly. who are backbit-
ers 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
ady at the time He remained for
some time In the town and during the
period Of his sojourn lavished 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
be had been accused OF being.
IT do believe" said one of the con
spirators to another in discussing the
matter. that Sue Gregory told him
The story herself, putting forward her
defense of him and lashing the rest
" u.s.
A year later, when the engagement
between Mr.. Edmonds and Miss Greg
wy was announced. all the girls agreed
hat Sue had played her cards very