Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-09-30
WRONG AVENGED

turned the heads of better men than
Gordon Willis?
And Gordon Willis loved her. And
vet 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 inner
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 il 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 a plead
ing gesture.
II have heard ALL" she said. and
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 l will die-do
you hear-die?'
You talk nonsense, Iva" she said,
you can turn me away if you wish"
There was a moments silence; then
Iva bent forward. her eyes still on
Vivian's lovely face.
"Without my husbands love 1 could
not live. l ask you to go away, and
you refuse. Remember. l have told
you that the day my husband tells
me that for your sake he wishes me
dead l will grant his wish. But, Wv
ian, l warn you that if you ever take
my place. living or dead, / will avenge
my own wrongs"
No n knew what words took place
| between Gordon Willis and his wife q
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 ut rest.
Iva Willis had been dead n 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,
We're resting OH Niyian's lovely face.
They paid no heed to where they
We're straying till with Il little inward
shudder Vivian noticed they had turn
ed down the path that led to the lake
the lake where Iva had ended her
passionate young life.
what is the matter. darling?" Cor
don asked.
IL feel a little chilly, Will YOU
90 to the house and bring me Il shawl,
please"
Missing 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 us he
turned away something crept over hel
that was not cold, yet left her trem.
bling. \ terrible, underlined fear seem
ed creeping round her heart. and darL
shadows were closing over her.
Suddenly her face grew CHASTITY
white and all the light faded from bel
lovely eyes; even her lips became pale
with the terror that swept over her.
For slowly along the edge of the lake
came a slender form in wet. trailing
garments. with marble face and black
wide open. stony eyes! o God. Wa
it 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 d cry of passionate
pain?
Yes, it was she. Living Or dead. sh,
had promised to avenge herself. am
she had come.
Vivian tried to shrink back. but il
vain Closer. still closer. came th
cold. wet form. Then two tiny hand
were uutstrrtciied as ii to clasp her.
Was it a dream. was it madness. o
was it a terrible reality!
Closer-cloSer the black. Starin
eyes were looking into lierS. and sh
could see the water dripping ON tn
sand, and then
An icy chill swept over her. the dar
shadow closed around her, and Gordo
Willis, coming down the path, heard
Shrek so terrible in it's anguish an
horror that his blood stopped coursin
in his veins, and when he reached hi
darling's side he found her kneelin
on the sand. pleading wildly to SON
unseen being, and out of her beautifl
eyes all light had faded save the will
glare of insanity.
No one ever knew nor eyer wi
know how it really was.
All they have for the story is tt
wild rawlings of Vivian herself.
God only knows whether she VIZ
. simply the victim Of Imagination
that Iva had come back to avenge tt
wrongs of her outraged heart. as ST
, promiSed