The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-09-13
The Redfield
Will
II Looked All Right When
Made, but Did Not
Pan Out Well
BY F. A. mitchell

tnat she marry the testatOrs ngnt
hand man of business, Theodore Grif-
FIN. Griffin had been In charge Of the
Redfeld company for some time before
its founders demise, and since he was
the only man who could squeeze prof
1t out Of 1t there was no necessity for
making any other provision for its
management. Nothing was said In the
will as to a refusal of Griffin to marry
Anne Redfield. 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 Grif-
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 II
when the time came to fulfill the con-
ditiops. There was no doubt about
Grifiin's acceding to 1t.
This Is why the will made no mention
Of a refusal on the part Of Griffin to
marry the heiress. II she refused to
marry him the stock Of the Redfield
company. which would otherwise be
hers, would go to Griffin. The residue
of the estate would In this case be d.
vided between several charitable insti-
tutions I'm which the testator had been
much interested during bis life.
Mr.. Redfeld 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 q matter for the future,
and she considered 1t q matter Of
course, as boy may do who Is brought
up to understand that he is to enter a
certain profession.
But when Anne Redf1eld at nineteen
found herself an orphan and called
upon to fulfill the conditions Of her
fathers will she was a woman and
had lover who had nothing whatever
to do with the condition except that II
she married him she would give up q
| fortune.
David Corwin was the young man
who had stepped In to prevent John
| Redfelds 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 fall Il
detect u love affair that Is developing
right under tfelr 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 pot reaiized and
which, never having been mentioned tC
her since she was fifteen years old
she regarded as dead letter But
even now II did not occur to her that
Griffin would force himself upon her
she being unwilling. She sent for hin
and told him that she could not marry
her fathers choice for her without VIC
lation to her feelings. Griffin replied
that he had promised her father to dc
his part in carrying out the plan; II
Anne would not do her part he saw nc
way but that the property. other thar
the business. must go to the charities
named In the will.
Anne consulted a lawyer, who told
her that under the terms Of the vii
she must marry Griffin to inherit bel
property. There was but one way out
Of the dilemma. and that was for Grit
I'm to refuse to marry her. This would
make the will imperative, and sh'
would inherit as heir at law, the sam'
as II there were no will, she being thu
only child and there being no widow.
Anne did not understand the lega
distinctions In the case, but she die
understand that her inberiting hel
property and marrying the man sh'
wanted depended on Griffin's declining
TO marry her. She sent for Griffin and
reported what the attorney had said.
This PLAN" replied Griffin, was In
augurated by your father. II received
my sanction, and he told me that yol
had made no objection to II. woult
not be justified I'm thwarting It by put
ting you in a position to render II in
operative. regret that the carrying
II out has become obnoxious to you
but that fact would not excuse me II
become party 30 multiplying It,"
"But father could have had no obJec
In making such will except to In
sure, so far as he could, my happiness
Four years ago he told me about thi
plan, and ! gave my consent to II
Had refused that consent am quit
sure he would not have made such
will. l was then a child. Now l an
q woman. Father never intended tina
should marry q man ! did not wisl
to marry"
"Your father doubtless knew tina
your happiness largely depended upoi
the possession or the fortune he ha,
been at such pains to build up. HI
was aware that q girl Of your age I
not able to manage = large concern
His money Is all invested I'm the busi
aess, and every one knows that bus
hess without a manager will soon go q
ruin. If you marry a man who Is no
capable OF managing yours you VIII b
sedueed to poverty. ! am sure ! IN
warranted In saying that no man