A Woman’s Vengeance (December 1968 | Volume: 20, Issue: 1)

A Woman’s Vengeance

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December 1968 | Volume 20, Issue 1


I thank 1 you for your sympathy, But help! No, 2 there is none for me. For what I’ve done I feel no sting Of penitence, nor can time bring One pang of sorrow. You may think Me hard, unfeeling, and may shrink 3 From me with loathing when I say, I’m glad my bullet found the way Into his heart; and I would do The same again, and glory 4 too, In having done it. Penalty! For what they now may do with me I care but little. 5 He is dead, And that ends all. What made me do the deed? The old, Old 6 time-worn story of man’s cold And heartless cruelty; of wrongs Heaped on her head, 7 to whom belongs At least respect, 8 if nothing more. I met him—him, my husband—just Five years ago. My God! what trust I placed in his fair words, so soft, So sweet, so full of love. But love is blind, And I was madly so. The first two years Were full 9 of joy—joy without tears. My life was of peaceful love. But ah! the change came sudden, fast; My summer sun was overcast. 10 The godlike being that I thought Of all mankind 11 the most perfect wrought, Tore off 12
the mask that hid his face,
And, to my horror, 13 in his place Revealed a demon, 14 blackest-hued, Remorseless, pitiless, imbued With all the wickedness that heart Can hold, or shameless sin 15 impart.… Then came at last the final blow— The worst that love can contemplate, And which can turn that love to hate. 16 One night, when he had gone from me,