Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-07-06
THE END.

They were both guilty, but was he so
much to blame in his passionate love for
this fair woman who had turned the
heads of better men than Gordon Willis?
And Gordon Willis loved her. And yet
there was another, dark faced, childish,
loving girl, who bore his name and to
whom his love was due.
He had married Iva st. Clair to please
his father and keep his inheritance.
And years after, at his fathers death,
Gordon had married her, caring little Tor
her, but fully aware of the fact that she
loved him with all the passion of her
fervid nature.
Vivian Hope was alone and friendless
in the world when Iva Willis offered her
a home, for they were distant cousins,
and she gladly accepted the generous
kindness.
Gordon Willis stood before her now,
his handsome face passion stirred, his
blue eyes glowing.
The truth had broken on Iva Willis
with an awful suddcnness of horror.
She came forward now with a pleading
gesture.
81 have heard ALL" she said, "and,
Vivian, pity me. You will go away,
Vivian, will you not-go away with your
! do not blame you. But, Vivian, if this
goes on | will die-do you hear-de."
you talk nonsense, Iva" she said.
"You can turn me away if you wish"
There was n moments silence; then Iva
bent forward, her eyes still on Nivian's
lovely face.
"Without my husbands love l could
not live / asked you to 90 away, AMI
you refused. Remember, | have told you
that the day my husband tells me that
for your sake he wishes me dead | will
grant his wish. But, Vivian, l warn you
that IL you ever take my place, living or
dead. l will avengc my own wrongs
No one knew what words took place
between Gordon Willis and his wife a
few weeks later, but every one knew that
the cold, still form Of Iva Willis was
found floating on the lake when the even
ing shadows fell her little hands crossed
on her bosom, her passionate heart at
rest.
Iva Willis had been dead one short
year when Gordon brought Vivian home
to reign in her stead.
They were straying up and down the
shady paths together. and Gordon's eyes,
filled with passionate tenderness, were
resting on Vivian's lovely face.
They paid no heed to where they were
straying. till with little inward shudder
Vivian noticed they had turned down
the path that led to the lake-the lake
where Iva had ended her passionate
young life.
What is the matter, darling?" Gordon
asked.
Il feel a little chilly. Will you go
to the house and bring me a shawl,
please"
Kissing her lightly on the forehead, her
husband turned and left her, and she
passed on and down to the lake.
She had complained of chilliness while
Gordon was with her, but as he turned
away something crcpt over her that was
not cold, yGt left her trembling. A ter
rihlc. underlined fear seemed creeping
round her heart. and dark shadows were
closing over her.
suddenly her face grew CHASTITY white
and all the light faded from her lovely
eyes; even her lips became pale with the
terror that swept over her
For slowly along the edge OF the lake
came n slender form in wet. trailing gar
ments, with marble face and black. wide
open. stony eyes, Oh. God, was il Iva
Willis? Was that cold. dusky face the
one that had been raised in pitcous plead
ings to her own? Were those white lips
the same that had parted that day in n
cry of passionate pain?
Yes, it was she. Living or dead she
had promised to avenge herself, and she
had come.
Vivian tried to shrink back, but in vain.
Closer, still closer. came the cold, wet
form. Then two tiny hands were out
stretched as if to clasp her.
Was il dream, was it madness or was
it terrible reality?
Closer-closer. The black, staring eyes
were looking into hers, and she could see
the water dripping on the sand, and
then
An icy chill swept over her, the dark
shadow closed around her. and Gordon
Willis, coming down the path, heard a
shrek 50 terrible in its anguish and hor-
ror that his blood stopped coursing in
his veins, and when he reached his dar-
| lng'S side he found her kneeling on the
sand pleading wildly to some unseen be-
ne. and out of her beautiful eyes all light
had faded save the wild glare of insan-
ity.
No one over knew nor ever will know
how it really was.
An they have for the story is the wild
| rawlings of Vivian herself.
| God only knows whether she was sim
! ply the victim of imagination. or had Iva
! come back to avenge the wrongs of her
outraged heart, as she promised?
Only one thing every one agreed, and
! that was that both the brides of Gordon
Willis met strangely sad fatcs. but which
was the saddcr none could tcll-the fate
of the childish young wife swept in dead
at his feet or the fate of the beautiful
/ y-.4lln