The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-06-17
THE SEXTON'S STORY.
Many Memories Recalled Beside an
cpon Crave

nous nnttorino Of The distant thunder.
but hal been 60 absorbed With The
beauties q the scenery that hnd mot
realized the fast approaching shower
TIL tho 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 Rateo country cemetery,
and short distance from the gate
eapied clump Of trees, under which
Thought might find temporary shelter
from the dash 81 rain that ! knew
would soon be upon me.
Passing through the gate, ! went up
The pathway short distance and dias
covered rustic house IN the center u
the group Of trees which had seen
rom the road. istartcd toward this
house, when flash Of lightning nearly
blinded me.
When ! recovered from the shoeig
the clouds had gathered 80 thickly that
lpeered into darkness Rs approached
the rustic house A. l tvaA entering
the door an apparent appaxition arosz
before me, and started back at the
sight Of an old man, All in white with
long, snow-white heard and hollow
eyes, who looked rs II he might Is
tenant Of one Of Tie old Rravea near by.
But welcorie from him, uttered Ia 4
very pleasant voice, rcassured rne. and
entered Just as the shower burst Ia
al is tury.
"A TOOK a seat h.eside ~. ala 800,
$3.50 - 49, tt4sttAs
be said:
Rather dlsmal place to b caas,h,
In thunder shower, Isn't III"
well. yes,n answered. sit Is -. i
am glad have company. But how
happened you to be here al this time.
II may askY'
"WhY, certainly you may aslt such n
question. am here To prepare a piace
for one Of my tenants You see 1 have
been sexton Of this cemetery for forty
years, and have come TO look upon ali
the inmates as my tcnants.s
looked a little way from where We
sat and the pile Of fresh earth iniicat-
'sed tho place where he had made pre-
paration for the new tenant.
Another binding flash III lightnlng
made me involuntariiy start. and ~ the
peal Of thunder which followed died
away saids
Forty years. that's long time.
suppose you could tell some interest;uo
storiea from your experience here?n x
YES" answered tho Old sexton. GIf
had the faculty. 81 story-talIing
could and enough % make many star.
lea"
Whose grave are you making ready
nowY l4ueried.
esrA Trcscott's, " he said, ia 4 mus
ing manner, and asked:
and who might Mrs Trescott be9',
The old sexton sat in d study Tor
moment, and then replied:
WHO was Mrs Trescott2 Well. IN
have 70 begin at tho beginning. Sixty
years ago Thomas and Robert Ed
mnnds came 70 this town from Fl,q-
land The two men were brothers ana
had married sisters. Thomas the c1d.
est, was widower with one dnnohter
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 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
a thorough lady, and they had one son.
Richard, Jr,, four years OF ago.
THE two brothers iaIilt the larga
wooden mill which ron passed lust he
low here, and for many years the busi-
ness went on. The brothers intended
that Edward and Alice should wed az
an early age, and the property TINS be
kept In the family.
Richard Trescott mad been oardener
for the family Tor many syears a. Eno..
land and had succeeded his f.thaf ana
% be had grown up with the brothers.
Il was only natural therefore, that lit
Tie Richard should be tho playmate Of
Edward and Alice.
"All was well for several vars hnt
when the cousins were twelve ~ thtr-
teen years Of age 4 slight trouble co,n.
menced. Edward mad 4 hastv te,ny,er
ana an overbearinr ,lispositlon ana "a
on account Of his superior standing ara
the knowledge that Ats was his IN
tended wife, jealousy was 81. used ~
the strong fricr5sst5 ,a..' !. I 80, 80, "
and Richard. ana this iealaasy had ~.
quent outbursts.
Young Richard was \ mamie tellar
a . = r,.