The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-07-28
THE SEXTON'S STORY.
Many Memories Recalled Beside an
Cpen Grave.

Cpen Grave.
For some time had heard the omi-
nous mustering Of the distant thunder.
hut had been so absorbed with the
beauties Of the scenery that had not
realized tho 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
looked up and saw that was Just
passing the gate of country cemetery.
and a Ehort distance from the gate
espied clump OF trees. under which I
thought ! might find temporary shelter
from the dash Of rain that | knew
would soon be upon me.
Passing through the gate. went mp
he pathway short distance and dis
covered rustic house Ia the center Of
the group Of trees which had seen
from the road. started toward this
house, when a flash Of lightning nearly
blinded the.
When ] recovered from the shock,
the clouds had gathered so thiciSly that
pecred into darkness as approached
the rustic house. As was entering
the door an apparent apparition arose
before me, and started back nj the
sight Of an old man, all in white, with
a long, snow-white beard and hollow
eyes, who looked as II he might be q
tenant Of one Of the old graves near by.
But welcome from him, uttered in q
very pleasant voice, treasured me, and
entered just us the shower burst In
all its fnry.
As took a scat beside the old man,
he said:
Rather n dismal Place to be caught
in thunder shower, isn't it2r
swell, yes answered. 1T is so. /
am glad have company. But how
happened yon to be here ut this time,
If / may asls?''
Why, certainly you may ask such a
question. am here to prepare place
for one of my tenants. You see have
been sexton Of this cemetery for forty
years, and have come to look upon all
the inmates MS my tenants
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 tie
peal Of thunder which followed died
away said:
Forty years, that's a long time.
suppose you could tell some interesting
stories from your experience herc2'
Eyes," answered the old sexton, "if
had the faculty OF storytelling
could dnd enough to make many stor-
les"
Whose grave are you making ready
now?' quericd.
MRS Treseoft's. he said, In mus.
ing manner, and asked:
''And who might Mrs. Trcscott be?n
The old sexton sat in study for y
moment, and then replied:
who was Mrs. Prescott? Well, III
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 cid
est, was widower with one daughter,
three years Of age. Roberts wife was
an invalid, and their family consisted
of son, also three years old
These two brothers built those two
houses chat yen can get a glimpse Of
over the tops OF the trees yonder The
houses stand side by sitle. and in the
rear betsveen.thc two stands garden
eris house, where lived Richard Tres
colt, gardener whom the Edmunds
brothers Lad brought with them from
England Richard Trcseott's wife was
q thorough ladY, and they had ono son.
Richard .Il., four years Of age,
"Thc two brothers built the large
wooden 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 are, and the property thus be
kept in Tire family.
''Eichard Prescott had been gardener
for the family for many years in Eng
land, ana had succeeded his father, and
50 he had grown up with the brothers
II WIS 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 agc slight trouble com
mence6. Edward had a hasty temper
and an ovcrbearing disposition. and SO,
on account Of bis superior standing and
the knowledge that Alice was his in
tended wife, jealousy was aroused by
the strong friendship between Alice
and Richard, and this jealousy had fire.
qhent outbnrsts.
iYoung Richard was manly fellow,
and stood Edwards insults in calm
and quiet manner. never resenting any
Of lis indignitics.
Matters went on thus until Edward
and Mice were sixteen, and by this
time the young man had become SO ex-
that he told his father Of the
state Of affairs Thomas was soon in
formed. and d stormy scene ensucd.
The result was that Richard Prescott
was Obliged to leave the employ Of the
brothers aud SO leave the town.
Soon after this, Thomas, the elder
brother. was taken seriously i'll, and,
fearing that he might not live TO see
the union Of his daughter and her cous-
in, he endeavored. by the most urgent
70 make her promise that
his desire should bc realized on her
Birthday.
For long lime the girl refused to
comply with TINS demand, but at
length. when It became evident that
her father could not recover, she con-