29
She turned aside, heart-broken,
And laid her down to die.
And laid her down to die.
And where was he, who sullied
Her once unspotted name;
Who lured her from life's brightness
To agony and shame?
Her once unspotted name;
Who lured her from life's brightness
To agony and shame?
Who left her on life's billows,
A wrecked and ruined thing;
Who brought the winter of despair
Upon Hope's blooming spring?
A wrecked and ruined thing;
Who brought the winter of despair
Upon Hope's blooming spring?
Through the halls of wealth and fashion
In gaiety and pride,
He was leading to the altar
A fair and lovely bride!
In gaiety and pride,
He was leading to the altar
A fair and lovely bride!
None scorned him for his sinning,
Few saw it through his gold;
His crimes were only foibles,
And these were gently told.
Few saw it through his gold;
His crimes were only foibles,
And these were gently told.
******
Before him rose a vision,
A maid of beauty rare;
Then a pale, heart-broken woman,
The image of despair.
A maid of beauty rare;
Then a pale, heart-broken woman,
The image of despair.
