The daily Alaskan., 1906-06-27
The Hatch Will

l OlQ man HaICQ QAu llNGu HIS llAG A9 a woman hater, and now that he was about to die he had no chick or child ! to whom to leave the estate that had been in the family for many years. The only available relative was his nephew. Raymond Hatch, who inherit i ed his uncle's dislike for women and who at his own death would not be i likely to leave an heir. Against this | the old man undertook to provide. He left the estate to Raymond on cOndi- ton that he marry within one year after coming into possession. Six days after making the will the testator died. Raymond on hearing the will read was delighted till he came to the clause requiring his marriage; then his coun tenRnce fell. Like most women haters, within the depths of his heart he had the image of an ideal woman whom he | never expected to find. However, since there was now the spur of fortune to drive him on, he started out in hunt for a girl whom he could love. Since Raymond was a fine fellow with a fortune he found plenty to choose from. Girls were thrown at him like hail stones. There were pushing girls, mod est girls, bad girls, good girls-indeed, girls of all kinds.
 Now, the chances are that when q woman hater falls in love 1t will be with some helter skelter girl instead of a steady. reliable woman who can be surely counted on to make a good wife. So it was with Raymond Hatch. He fell before the charms of Grace MaryOtt, us gracelesS a fiirt as ever an- gled for man. If there was a serious thought in her head 1t did not appear. There was no prank of which she was not capable. With it all was q certain indcScribabIe witchery that fascinated men where sterling qualities would have had no effect Such girls some times when they find themselves con frUutrd with the serious problems Ut wife and mother make very good wives, but t4cy are uncertain.
 Raymond would have liked to keep the secret of his inheritance, but eligi- ble young men with fortunes cannot hide them, and RaymOnd'S fortune was a widely known fact. Miss MaryOtt knew all about it, but had the GGfrOnt. cry to pretend that she supposed him to be a poor man, while Raymond had the stupidity 10 believe her. Raymond did not meet the girl till within two months of the time of expiration of the year fixed by the will for matrimcny, but during these two months great deal was accomplished. The truth is Miss Maryott left Mir Hatch very little to do in the matter. These tlirtS know men better than the steady. modest women do, and are aware that d man does not object to being courted by q woman for whom he does not have positive dislike. Besides, iirts have way of backing auI filling that is pug zling. Miss MaIyogt blew hot and cold until she got IaJcI in fever of un- certainty. On several occasions when she was blowing hot he tried to get in a proposal. but she always COntriyed to head him of One week before he must marry or los" his inheritance he was still uncertain Of his fate.
 At this time Miss Maryott suddenly became apparently very pliable, Hatch had been reproYing her for trihing with him, and she appeared so con trite that, taking advantage of the Op. portunity, he blurted out his proposal. To his astonishment she refused him.
 It seemed to him that the bottom had dropped out of the universe.
 But when it came to the reason for her unexpected action the girl unblush' ingly told him that 1t would be unwiSe for two people to marry both being unendOwed with worldly goods.
 Hope sprang back into the lovers breast, and he told her of his uncles will and its important condition.
 Then came the most surprising blow of all. Miss MaryOtt looked at him with well affected surprise and coolly asked him if he considered her one to marry for money. He pointed out the want of logic In such conclusion, but with no effect The girl told him that be must look elsewhere for some one to help him secure his fortune. Her heart was too sacred to be used in any such merceuary manner, whereupou Hatch declared that his fortune might go to charity or the dogs for all he cared and left her.
 At the last moment the heir prospec- tive was approached by Miss Wyman, a friend of Miss Maryott's, who argued with him the folly Of letting fortune go that might as well be secured. She advised Hatch to comply with the pro vision of the will by marrying some J old woman who had not long to live. , Hatch was desperate and did not care what he did. Miss Wyman agreed to ! introduce hlm to a woman of eighty who could not possibly live a week. Hatch consented, and arrangements were made accordingly.
 It was not till 10 o'clock of the day tho limit of time fixed by the will ex- pired that Miss Wymau kept her prom ise and introduced Hatch into room where on a lounge, prOpped up by pill lows, an old woman. wrinkled, hollow checked, snaggle toOthed, was waiting to receive him. X clergyman had been