The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-08-03
The Redfield
Will
IL Looked All Right When
Made, but Did Not
Pan Out Well
By F. A. mitchell

When the late John Redfeld's will
was opened 1t was learned that all his
property-a goodly fortune-was left to
his daughter Anne, with the condition
that she marry the testator's right
hand man of business, Theodore Grit
I'm. Griffin had been in charge Of the
Redfleld company for some time before
its founders demise. and since he was
the only man who could squeeze n prof
it out of it there was no necessity for
making any other provision for its
management. Nothing was said in the
will as to refusal of Griffin to marry
Anne Redfleld. Her father when she
was passing into womanhOod had told
her that ii was his intention to give her
a good manager for the fortune he
would leave her, In the person of Grit
fin. Anne was then too young to con-
slider the Importance Of the plan to
her, and her father was led to believe
that she would make no objection to it
when the time came to fulfill the con-
Griffin's acceding to it.
This is why the will made no mention
Of refusal on the part of Griffin to
marry the heiress. If she refused to
marry him the stock of the Redtield
company. which would otherwise be
hers, would go to Griffin. The residue
Of the estate would in this case be di-
vided between several charitable insti-
tutions In which the testator had been
much interested during his life.
Mr.. Red6eld died four years after
mentioning the matter to his daughter
When he did so she was fifteen. At
the time of his death she was nineteen.
She had told some of her schoolmates
that she was to marry Griffin and had
made no objection to doing so. At that
time 1t was matter for the future,
and she considered 1t matter of
course. as boy may do who is brought
up to understand that he is to enter a
certain profession.
But when Anne Redfield at nineteen
found herself an orphan and called
upon to fulfill the conditions of her
fathers will she was woman and
had lover who had nothing whatever
to do with the condition except that II
she married him she would give up
fortune
David COrwin was the young man
who had stepped In to prevent John
Redfeld's we'll conceived plan from
being smoothly worked out. David had
been attentive to Anne for some time
before her fathers death. but Mr.. Red
field was not observant, and quite
often parents who are watchful fail to
detect a love affair that is developing
right under their noses. This one came
to head during Mr.. Redfield's last III
ness.
When the will was read Anne was
reminded Of something the importance
of which she had not realized and
which, never having been mentioned to
her since she was fifteen years old.
she regarded as dead letter. But
even now 1t did not occur to her that
Griffin would force himself upon her.
she being unwilling. She sent for him
and told him that she could not marry
her fathers choice for her without vio-
lation to her feelings. Griffin replied
that he had promised her father to do
his part In carrying out the plan; If
Anne would not do her part he saw no
way but that the property, other than
the business, must go to the charities
named in the will.
Anne consulted a lawyer, who told
her that under the terms Of the will
she must marry Griffin to inherit her
There was but one way out
Of the dilemma, and that was for Grif-
fin to refuse to marry her. This would
make the will imperative, and she
would inherit as heir at law, the same
as II there were no will. she being the
only child and there being no widow.
Anne did not understand the legal
distinctions in the case, but she did
understand that her inheriting her
property and marrying the man she
wanted depended on Grifiiu's declining
to marry her. Size sent for Griffin and
reported what the attorney had said.
This PLAN" replied Griffin, twas in.
augurated by your father. 1t received
my sanction, ana he told me that you
had made no objection to It. l would
not be justified In thwarting 1t by put
ting you In a position to render 1t in.
operative. regret that the carrying
1t out has become obnoxious to you.
but that fact would not excuse me II
become party to multiplying It."
"But father could have had no object
in making such a will except to in
sure, so far as he could, my happiness.
Four years ago he told me about this
plan, and gave my consent to 1t.
Had refused that consent am quite
sure he would not have made such a
viii. l was then a child. Now l am
q woman. Father never intended that
I should marry a man / did not wish
10 marry"
"Your father doubtless knew that
your happiness largely depended upon
the possession Of the fortune he had
been at such pains to build up. He
was aware that a girl of your age Is
not able to manage a large concern.
His money ~ all invested I'm the bust
ness, and every one knows that bust
ness without a manager will soon go to
ruin. II you marry man who is not
capable OF managing yours you will be
reduced to poverty. l am sure l am