The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-04-02
A WRONG AVENGED

They were both guilty, but was lie
30 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, a 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 inher-
itance
And years after, at his fathers
death, Gordon had married her, car
ing little for her, but fully aware of
the fact that she loved him with all
the passion of her fervid nature.
Vivian Hope was alone and friend
less in the world when Iva Willis Of
fered her n home, for they were dis
tant 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 suddenness of horror.
She came forward now with plead
ing gesture.
II have heard ALL" she said land
Vivian, pity me. You will go away,
Vivian, will you not-go away with
your fatal beauty and leave me my
husband? l do not blame you. But,
Vivian, if this goes on I will dle-do
you hear-die?"
"You talk nonsense, Iva" she said.
"You can turn me away IL you wish"
There was a moments silence; then
Iva bent forward, her eyes still on
Vivians lovely face.
"Without my husbands love l could
not live. / ask you to go away, and
you refuse. Remember, l have told
you that the day my husband tells
Inc that for your sake he wishes me
dead l will grant his wish. But, Wv
ian. warn you that If you ever take
my place, living or dead, will avenge
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 evening shadows fell. her little
hands crossed on her bosom, her pas
sionate 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 turn
ed down the path that led to the lake
the lake where Iva had ended hei
passionate young life.
"What is the matter, darling?" Cor
don asked.
I-I feel little chilly. VIII you
go to the house and bring me shawl
please"
kissing her lightly on the forehead
her husband turned and left her, anC
she passed on and down to the lake
She had complained of chilliness
while Gordon was with her, but as ht
turned away something crept over hel
that was not cold, yet left her trem
bling. A terrible, underlined fear seem
ed creeping round her heart, and darl
shadows were closing over her
Suddenly her face grew ghastl!
white and all the light faded from hel
lovely eyes; even her lips became pale
with the terror that swept over her.
For slowly along the edge of the LAKE
came slender form in wet, trailing
garments, with marble face and black
wide open, stony eyes! o God, wal
1t Iva Willis? Was that cold, dusk.
face the one that had been raised il
piteous pleadings to her own? Wer'
those white lips the same that hat
parted that day in a cry of passionate
pain?
Yes, it was she. Living or dead, sh
had promised to avenge herself, ant
she had come.
Vivian tried to shrink back, but il
vain. Closer, still closer, came tn
cold, wet form. Then two tiny hand
were outAt!etched as If to clasp her.
Was il dream, was it madness, o
was it a terrible reality?
Closer-C ser - the black, starin
eyes We're cooking into hers, and sh
could see the water dripping on tn
sand, and ,hen-
An icy chill swept over her, the darl
shadow closed around her, and Gordol
Willis, coming down the path, heard
shrek so terrible in its anguish ant
horror that his blood stopped coursin
in his veins, and when he reached hi
darling's side he found her kneelin