The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-08-15
THE sEXT0N'S STORY.
Many Memories Recalled Beside an
Open Grave

beauties OF the scepery that ! 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.
looked up and saw that was just
passing the gate Of country cemetery,
and a short distance from the gate !
espied a 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
he 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 a fash Of lightning nearly
Blinded me.
When / 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
a
eyes, who looked as II he might be
tenant Of one Of the old graves near by.
But welcome from him, uttered in q
very pleasant voice, treasured me, and
entered just as the shower burst in
all its fury.
As tooka seat beside the old man.
he said:
Rather dismal place to be caught
In thunder shower, isn't it2n
well, yes" answered, sit is so.
am glad I have company. But how
happened yon to be here at this time,
If tmay ask?"
why, certainly you may ask such q
question. am here to prepare nplace
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 AZ my tenants.
looked a little way from where we
ssat, 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 tho
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-
les
Whose grave are you making ready
now?" queried.
Mrs Trescotts, he said, in mus.
ing manner, and ! asked:
And who might Mrs. Prescott be?'
The old sexton sat in stndy for a
moment, and then replied:
who was Mrs. Prescott? 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 ED
est, was a 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 glimpse Of
over the tops OF the trees yonder. The
houses stand side by side, and in the
rear between the two stands garden
er's house, where lived Richard Tres
cott a gardener whom the Edmunds
brothers had brought with them ftom
England Richard Trescott's wife was
q Thorough lady, and they had one son,
Richard, Jr.. four years OF age.
The two brothers built the large
wooden mill which you passed just be-
low here, and for many years the bust
ness went on. The brothers intended
that Edward and Alice should wed at
an early age, 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
50 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.
mcnced. Edward had hasty temper
and an overbearing disposition. aud so
on account Of his superior standing and
the knowledge that Alice was his in.
tended vim, a jealousy was aroused by
the strong friendship between Alice
and Richard, and this Jealousy had fre-
quent outbursts
Dung Richard was manly fellow,
and stood Edwards insults in calm
andquiet manner, never resenting any
of his lndighities. 5s
Matters went on thus until Edwart
and Alice We're sixteen, and by this
time the Soung man had become so OK
asperated That he told his father of III 1
state Of affairs Thomas was soon IN
formed and stormy scene ensued
The result VIZ that Richard Trescoti
was obliged ~ leave the employ Of ths
brothers and 81 leave the town.
Soon after this, Thomas, the elder
brother was taken seriously i'll, and
fearing that Mcknight not live to Sci
the union 81 hisSdaughter and her cous
~. he cndeaSared, by the most urgent
persuasion, to make her promise ina
his desire should he realized on hei
twenty first birthday
For long time the girl refused L
comply with tlis demand, hut Il
length, when it became evident tina
her father could not recover, she con
seuted
s. And 50 Thomas died, and ii wa.
understood that his will 4prorided tia
IN case Alice died before she va
twenty-one, her half Of the pyopert,
shopld'Eo u Edward, and ia care 81,
passed her twenty-iirst birthday, with,