The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-03-01
THE sEXTON'S STORY.
Many Memories Recalled Beside an
Open Grave.

Int had been 90 absorbed with the
heauties Of the scenery that had not
realized the fast approaching shower
tin the first great drops which herald
the coming tempest battered around
me-. now and then one striking me and
roinr through my thin summer coat
looked up and saw that was just
passing the gate Of q country cemetery,
and q short distance from the gate l
espied Q clump Of trees, under which !
thought might find temporary shelter
from the dash Of rain that knew
would soon be upon me.
Passing through the gate, went up
The pathway short distance and dis
covered rustic house In the center OF
the group Of trees which had seen
from the road started toward this
house, when fash Of lightning nearly
blinded me.
When I recovered from the shock,
the clouds had gathered 50 thickly that
peered into darkness as approached
the rustic house As ! was entering
the door an apparent apparition arose
before me, and started back at the
sight OF an old man, all In white, with
q long, snow-white beard and hollow
eyes, who looked as II he might be .
tenant OF one Of the old graves near by.
But q 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 it2"
well. yes" answered, ''it Is 50.
am glad ] have company. But how
happened you to be here at this time,
II may ask?'
why, certainly you may ask such
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 as 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 fash of lightning
made me involuntarily start, and as the
peal Of thunder which followed died
away said:
Forty years. that's long time. /
suppose you could tell some interesting
stories from your experience here2"
yes" answered the old sexton; ''if
had the faculty Of storytelling
could find enough to make many stor-
iess
Whose grave are you making ready
now2" queried
Mrs Trescott's." he said, in mus
ing manner, and asked:
And who might Mrs. Prescott be?'
The old sexton sat in study for a
moment, and then replied:
.Who was Mrs. Trescott? Well, 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 son. also three years old.
These two brothers built those two
houses that you can get glimpse Of
over the tops Of the trees yonder. The
houses stand side by side, and in the
rear between the two stands a garden
er's house, where lived Richard Tres
colt, gardener whom the Edmunds
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 ageA and the property thus be
kept In the family.
Richard 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.
II was only natural, therefore, that lit
tie Richard should be the playmate Of
Edward and Alice.
All was well for several years, but
when the cousins were twelve or thir-
teen years of age slight trouble COM
menced. Edward had hasty temper
and an overbearing disposition, and SO,
on account Of his 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.
quent outbursts
Young Richard was q manly fellow.
and stood Edwards insults in a calm
and quiet manner, never resenting any
Of bis indignities.
Matters went on thus until Edward
and Alice were sixteen, and by this
time the young man had become so ex-
asperated that he told his father Of tn e
state 81 affairs. Thomas was soon in
formed, and a stormy scene ensued.
, 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,
fearing that he might not live To see
the union Of his daughter and her cous-
IN, he endeavored, by the most urgent
persuasion, to make her promise that
his desire should lie realized ON her
twenty birthday
For long time the girl refused to
comply with this demand, but al
length, when IL became evident that
her father could not recover, she CON
sented
And 50 Thomas died, and il was
understood that his will provided that
IN case Alice died before she was
twenty-one, her half Of the property
y should go 70 Edward, and in case she