Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-11-07
THE SEXTON'S STORY.
Many Memories Recalled Beside an
 Open Grave.

For some time had heard the omi nous muttering of the distant thunder. but had been so absorbed with the beauties of the scenery that l had not realized the fast approaching shower till the first great drops which herald the coming tempest battered around me, now and then one striking me and going through my thin summer coat.
 l looked up and saw that I was just passing the gate of a country cemetery. and a short distance from the gate l espied clump of trees, under which l thought might find temporary shelter from the dash of rain that I knew would soon be upon me. Passing through the gate, I went up the pathway short distance and dis covered a rustic house in the center of the group of trees which I had seen from the road. I started toward this house, when a flash of lightning nearly blinded me.
 When I recovered from the shock, the clouds had gathered so thickly that 1 peered into darkness as I approached the rustic house. As l was entering the door an apparent apparition arose before me, and 1 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 might be a tenant of one of the old graves near by.
 But welcome from him, uttered in a very pleasant voice, treasured me, and l entered just as the shower burst in all Its fury.
 As took seat beside the old man, he said:
 Rather dismal place to be caught in thunder shower, isn't it?'
 'Well, yes," I answered, ''it is so. am glad I have company. But how happened you to be here at this time, if may ask?"
 'Why, certainly you may ask such a question. l am here to prepare place for one of my tenants. You see I have been sexton of this cemetery for forty years, and have come to look upon all the inmates as my tenants"
 l looked little way from where we sat, and the pile of fresh earth indicat- ed the place where he had made pre- paration for the new tenant
 Another binding flash of lightning made me involuntarily start, and as the peal of thunder which followed died away l said:
 Forty years' that's long time. I suppose you could tell some interesting stories from your experience here?"
 "Nes," answered the old sexton; ''if had the faculty of storytelling could find enough to make many stor- ics."
 'WhOse grave are you making ready now?' l queried.
 Mrs. Trescott's," he said, in a mus ing manner, and l asked:
 And who might Mrs. Prescott be?''
 The old sexton sat in a study for a moment, and then replied:
 "Who was Mrs. Prescott? We'll, I'll have to begin at the beginning. Sixty years ago Thomas and Robert Ed munds came to this town from Eng land. The two men were brothers and had married sisters. Thomas, the eld- est, was a widower with one daughter, three years of age. Roberts wife was an invalid, and their family consisted of a sen, also three years old.
 "IheSe two brothers built those two houses that you can get d glimpse of over the tops of the trees wonder. The houses stand side by side, and in the rear between the two stands garden CTS house, where lived Richard Tres N'ltD b dINlCIlSE "IlOul JIc brothers had brought with them from England. Richard Trescott's wife was thorough lady, and they had one son, Richard, Jr., four years of age.
 "The two brothers built the large woolen mill which you passed just be- low here, and for many years the busi- ness went on. The brothers intended that Edward and Alice should wed at an early age, and the property thus be kept in tine family.
 'Elchard Prescott had been gardener for the family for many years in Eng land, and had succeeded his father, and so he had grown up with the brothers It was only natural, therefore, that lit tie Richard should be the playmate of Edward and Alice.
 "All was we'll for several years, but when the cousins were twelve or thir- teen years of age slight trouble com mcnced. Edward had a nasty temper and an overbearing disposition, and so, on account of his superior standing and the knowledge that Alice was his in- tended wife, a jealousy was aroused by the strong friendship between Alice and Richard, and this jealousy had ire quent outbursts.
 Young Richard was a manly fellow. "nl food Edwards insults in a calm
 II '."'rt manner, never rescnting any
 I h., !u,,;.s.it:cI.
 ">lIt:ers went un thus until Edward md Alice were sixteen, and Ly this time the young man had become so ex- pSperated that he told his father of tn e tate of affairs. Thomas was soon in- formed, and stCImy scene ensucd The result was that Richard Prescott was obliged to leave the employ of the brothers and so leave the town.
 "Soon after this, Thomas, the elder brother, was taken seriously i'll, and, fe caring that he might rot live to see tac union If his daughter and her cous- in, he eudcavored, by the most urgent persuasion, to make her promise that his desire should Le realized on her twenty first birthday.
 For long time the girl refused to comply with this demand, but at length, when it became evident that E,,,. f,4t,