He ran away and was gone for a year. br When he came home he told me the silly story br Of being kidnapped by pirates on Lake Michigan br And kept in chains so he could not write me. br I pretended to believe it, though I knew very well br What he was doing, and that he met br The milliner, Mrs. Williams, now and then br When she went to the city to buy goods, as she said. br But a promise is a promise br And marriage is marriage, br And out of respect for my own character br I refused to be drawn into a divorce br By the scheme of a husband who had merely grown tired br Of his marital vow and duty.