Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1914-07-10
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 al
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 ~. 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. Tdmonds 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, girls?"
Il 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 wo-
man hater? Did you hear him say
So?' Miss Gregory asked.
mo, but May Farnsworth got it di.
rect from Betty Fiske, who knows hir
very we'll"
"Supposing," Miss Gregory replied,
that we girls were jury to try Mr..
Edmonds on the charge Of being a wo-
man hater, do you think the judge
would admit such evidence? If wsre
his counsel | would show a motive u.
the part Of the girl who reported the
confession
What motiveW
"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
rho m n iOritv admitted tbot n must ba
so. 1t was finally agreed that no no.
tlce 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
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 great
deal with Mr. Edmonds Then the
broke apart, and each of
The young ladies of the tea party man
aged by hook or crook to make Mr..
~ cOlN eTSu-
ion very like this was apt to follow:
I'm very glad to meet you, Mr.. Ed
nOnds, but l don't suppose you're glad
o meet me-"
"Why? was the surprised rejOinder.
Because | hear you are woman
later"
Mr.. EdmOnds knit his brows.
"Are you?'
"Yes."
After the question was thus put to
i'm six times, each time with a sim,
lar reply, the gentleman began an in
estigatiOn as to how the report about
i'm came to be circulated. One of the
iris present at Miss Mathews tea"
ad given an account Of the discussion
0 her mother, and that lady gave it to
he accused.
Suddenly Miss Fiske found herself
ropped by Mr. Edmonds, and he show
d by his manner to the girls who had
sked him about being a woman hater
hat he had no use for their society.
However, there was one exception.
Ir Edmonds solicited an introduction
D Miss Gregory and on obtaining 1t
aid:
81 have understood that l have ad-
litted myself to be hater of women,
nd l have admitted the fact But
here are few statements that do not
eed a qualification. hate all women
Tho are unwomanly. who are backbit-
rs and slanderers. who spread false
eports and who believe anything that
! told them without an investigation"
This is all the gentleman said to the a
Idy at the time. He remained for
Dme time In the town and during the
eriod of his sojourn lavished upon w
Iiss Gregory every attention she 81
'ould accept, while to the others who a,
nd been implicated In the charge re
galnst him he showed himself all that hi
e had been accused of being. ii,
II do believe" said one Of the con- In
orators to another in discussing the nc
after. that Sue Gregory told him Y,
lie story herself, putting forward her
sfense of him and lashing the rest
us"
A year later, when the engagement
atween Mr.. Edmonds and Miss Greg -
mae all Fha frIs oo-aa1 i