The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-09-09
THE SEXT0Ns STORY.
Many Memories Recalled Bosido an
Open Grave.

beauties OF the scenery that Ind not
realized tho fast approaching shower
till the first great drops which herald
the coming Tempest battered around
me, now ard then one striking me and
going through my thin summer coat
Hooked up and saw That was Just
passing the gate Of n country cemetery.
and a short distance from the gate I
espied 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 mp
The pathway short distance and dis
covered rustic house In the center OF
| the group Of trees which | Ind seen
from the road started toward this
house, when q fash OF lightning nearly
blinded me,
i When | recovered from the shock,
the clouds had gathered SO thiclxly that
| peered into darkness az 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
a long. sn0w.white beard aud hollow
i
tenant of one Of the old graves near by.
lint Il welcome from him, uttered In
very pleasant voice treasured me. and
entered just as the shower burst in
all its fury,
As took II seat beside the old man.
he said:
Rather dismal place 10 be caught
in thunder shower, isn't it2''
well. yes | answered. sit Is So. i
am glad have company But how
happened You 10 be here nj this time,
II | may asls?"
why, certainly you mny ask such u
question, | am here to prepare place
for one Of my tenants You sec have
been sexton Of this cemetery for forty
years, and have como To look upon all
the inmates MS my tenantss
1 looked little way from where we
sat, and the pile Of fresh earth indicnt-
ed the place where he had made prof.
| paration for the new tenant
Another binding flash Of lightning
made me involuntarily start, and MS the
peal OF thunder which followed died
away said:
Forty years. that's n long time. ]
| suppose You could tell some interesting
stories from your experience hcre?,
.'Yes,' answered the old sexton; III
had the faculty Of storytelling l
could find enough TO make many stor-
| les"
Whose grave are you making ready
now2'' qneried.
Mrs. Trescott's. Z he said, Ia mus
Ing manner, and asked:
And who might Mrs. Prescott be7''
The old sexton sat In a study for q
moment, and then replied:
who was Mrs. Trescott2 Well, I'll
have 10 begin at the beginning. Sixty
years ago Thomas and Robert Ed.
munds came 70 this town from Eng
land. The two men were brothers and
had married sisters. Thomas, tho 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 that you can get n glimpse Of
over the tops OF the trees yondcr. The
houses stand side by side, and In tho
rear between the two stands garden
er's house, whore lived Richard Tres
colt, gardener whom the Edmunds
brothers had brought with them from
England. Richard Trescott's wife was
o thorough lady, and they had one son,
Richard, Jr., four years Of age.
'sThe 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 carly age, and the property thus BIO
kept In the family.
Richard Prescott had been gardener
for the family for many years In Eng
land, and had succeeded his father, and
30 he had grown mp with the brothers.
1t 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, o jealousy was aroused by
the strong friendship between Alice
and Richard, and this jealousy had FREE
4quent outbarsts.
Young Richard was manly fellow,
and stood Edwards insults in q calm
and quiet manner, never resenting any
Of his indignities.
Matters went on thus until Edward
and Alice were sixteen. and by this
time the young man had become so ex-
aspernted that he told his father Of the
state Of affairs. Thomas was soon in
formed, and a stormy scene ensued.
The result was that Richard Trescott
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 endeavorcd, by the most urgent
persuasion. to make her promise that
his desire should lie realized on her
twenty first birthday.
For long time the girl refused to
comply with this demand, but at
length, when II became evident that
her father could not recover, she con-
sented.
And so Thomas died, and II was
understood that hisAwill provided that
In case Alice died before she was
twenty-one, her half Of the property
should 20 to Edward, and In caae she