Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-10-28
THE SEXTON'S STORY.

For some time l had heard the
ominous muttering of the distant
thunder. but had been SO absorbed
with the beauties OF the scenery that
/ had not called the fast approach
Ing shower till the first great drops
which herald the coming tempest
battered around me- now and then
one striking me and going through
my tnin summer coat
looked up and saw that was just
passing the gate OF n country GEN.
etery. and short d stance from the
gate | espied clump of treeS under
which thought | might find temper
airy shelter rom the dash OF rain that
! knew would soon be upon me-
Passing through the gate. | went
up the pathway short distance and
discovered IA rustic house in the cen
ter OF the group OF trees which had
seen from the road. started toward
this house when flash of lightning
nearly blinded me.
When | recovered from the shock,
the clouds had gathered so tn ckly
that peered into darkness as | ap.
preached the rustic hou o. AS | was
entering the door an apparent apparI-
ton arose before me, and | started
back at the sight OF an old man. all
In white. with long, snow-white
beard and hollow eyes who looked
as if he m ght he the tenant of one
of the old graves near by.
But welcome from him uttered in
We y pleasant voice treasured me,
and entered just as the shower burst
in all its fury.
AS took a seat beside the old man,
he said:
''Rather dismal place to be caught
in a thunder shower isn't it?'
We'll yes answered. lit 8 so.
/ am glad have company. But how
happened you to be here at this time?
IL may ask. "
why. GER ainly you may ask such
quest on. ] am here to prepare
place for one OF my tenants. You
see | have been sexton of this GENE.
terry for 40 years and have come to
look on all the inmates as my ten
ants
looked little way from where
we sat and tie pile of fresh earth
indicated the place where he had
made preparation for the new tenant.
Another binding flash OF lightning
made me involuntarily start and as
the peal OF thunder which followed
died away | said:
Forty years! that's "a long time. l
suppose you could tell some interest
ing stores from your experience
herep"
Yes" answered the old sexton;
'if had the faculty of story. telling
] could find enough to make many
stories. "
Whose grave are you making
ready now" queried.
'Mra Trescott's he said. In q
musing manner and / asked:
And who might Mrs. Prescott bep'
The old sexton sat in study for a
moment and then replied:
WHO was Mrs. Trescottp Well.
I'll have to begin at the beginning.
Sixty years ago Thomas and Robert
Edmunds came to this town from
England. The two men were broth
ers and had married sisters Thomas
the eldest was widower with one
daughter three years OF age. Robert
wife was an invalid. and their family
consisted OF a son. also three years
old.
These two brothers built those
two houses that you can get glimpse
o. over the tops of the trees yonder
The houses stand side by side, and in
the rear between the two STANDS a
gardeners house, where lived Rich
ard Trescott a gardener whom the
Edmunds brothers had brought with
them from England. Richard Tres
colts wife was thorough lady, and
they had one son. Richard Jr.. four
years OF age
The two brothers built the large
woollen mill which you passed just
below here and for many years the
business went on. The brothers in
tended that Edward and Alice should
wed at an early age and tho property
thus be kept in the family.
'Richard Prescott had been gar.
dener for the family for many years
In England and had succeeded his
father and SO he had grown up with
the brothers IL was only natural
therefore that little Richard should
he the playmate OF Edward and Alice
.Al was we'll for several years. but
when the cousins were II or Ii year s
of age a slight trouble commenced.
Edward had hasty temper and an
ogerbearing disposition. and SO on
nccount OF his superior standing and
the knowledge that Alice was his in
tended vile. a jealousy was aroused
by the strong friendship existing be-
tween Alice and Richard and this
jealousy had frequent outbursta
Young Richard was manly fell
low and stood Edwards insults In a
calm and quiet manner never resent.
Ing any OF his indignitieS