The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1906-01-12
THE LADY WITH
THE VIOLET EYES
By OWEN OLIVER
Copyright, 1906, by Joseph B. Bowles.)

her name down IN this story. ProIeS-
sionally thought of her as valuable
client. Privately l had remembered
her by her eyes since she was a mere
baby. They were the color Of wet
violets.
81 want you to make him better.
she said. frowned at her over my
spectacles.
my dear young lady," l protested,
IL am lawyer, not a missionary. 1t
is not my business to reclaim evil.
doers."
Not as lawyer" she said. but
as a man" folded my hands judi
cially.
las a man, l have no hope of re-
forming this particular scoundrel."
IF you would try? You are so
clever and kind"
at would be quite useless" / said,
firmly.
My aunt told me to come to you
when I wanted help" She knew that
had an affection for my late client.
For her sake"
'Your aunt" l objected, was a
dreamer. She put her own good mo-
tiyes to other peoples deeds. l was
merely an honest lawyer earning his
fee. 1t pleased her to credit me with
imaginary virtues"
Then you refuse?" She looked at
me entreatingly.
"As lawyer, yes. AS man-no.
I will see this fellow to please you.
1t is an act of friendship, outside bust
ness, you understand" She held out
her hands impulsively, and took
them.
81 knew you would" she said.
You are as good as foolish" / told
her, as she smiled back at me, over
her shoulder, from the door,
Then put on my hat and went to
seek one Richard Manning, whom
was to reform, If reformation could be-
He was a seedy individual with a
hard, wolfish mouth and sunken eyes.
He had nearly reached the stage of
utter selfishness. Nevertheless he
WINGED when I announced his aunts
death 49,
''She was good to me-" he said.
'The only one!" He played with the
fringe of the shabby table cover for a
few seconds "The annuity, you said,
would continue?"
"Yes," replied, sharply. The lady
with the violet eyes had insisted,
against my advice, upon continuing it.
She was their aunt's sole legatee
Il suppose that is all you care about"
st doesn't follow" he said, quietly,
because I am a BLACKBOARD that /
can't care for anything, or anyone,
better. A man can go downtown;
and keep on looking up. That is his
punishment"
Whats the use of standing at the
bottom of the pit staring up at the
skylight? Why don't you try to climb
out?" He shook his head.
mo use."
did you ever try?" He fidgeted
and said nothing.
decent people? Would you keep
straight" He shook his head again
"She tried once" he said, huskily.
my aunt. l thought could manage
It; lbut / had to give it up"
Had to-" l shrugged my shoulders
impatiently. He looked at me
keenly.
1--WE half a mind to tell you," he
said. 'You won't believe me, but 1t
doesn't matter"
Il know when to believe" I assured
him. 1t is the knowledge which takes
longest to gain; but l am an old man.
Listen then" he said, looking away
from me, at the fireplace. 1T was
three years after l did it; a year after
l came out of prison. She heard was
going from bad to worse; spending
her allowance on drink and gambling.
That was what had ruined me- You
know what l did,"
Yes" 1t was a shameful robbery
Of employers who had treated him
well and trusted him.
"She sent for me and said that she
wanted to give me another chance.
She was moving, for her health to the
country, away from her relatives and
IL "Ouiu 81 anu stay Will
her, and try to live down the love of
drink and gambling, and take an in
terest in wholesome life, she would
get me employment with friends, she
promised; and then when l had wiped
off the past, people would forget, she
declared. l said l would try" He
poured out a glass of spirits and
drank it at draught. 81 tried"
you didn't try hard enough" I
suggested.
81 tried hard. OF course | had one
or two breakdowns. l was very cut
up about them; but I was honest and
cold her. She never reproached me:
never said anything but: Try again.'
tried again." He gulped down some
thing in his throat. I'D have sue.
ceeded, but"
"Ah! Those 'buts'i"
There was girl living with her.
a young girl, my cousin. Her name
doesn't matter. l called her 'Violets'
because of her eyes. They were the
loveliest eyes that ever Anyhow.
she was too innocent to suspect what
l was, and wasn't. My aunt didn't
undeceive her. Neither did 1. God
knows If I might have grown into a