"All's Well that Ends Well."

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 10, 12 January 1870, Page 3

"All's Well that Ends Well."

—o—(From Once-a ■ Week.) Some yours ago, I knew a lapidary who gained a considerable fortune from tv grout misfortune. An excellent workman, honest as the day, Montin had but ono fault: he was too fond of good wine, which caused him to neglect his work, sometimes for together, to the great dissatisfaction of his employer, who in all other respects valued and esteemed him highly, both for his skill and probity. One day Montin received from his master a diamond of the finest water to cut and polish, with strict recommendations to keep sober until the work was finished. " I rely on yonr activity," said the joweller, on giving him the stone. " I must have it without fail on the 15th instant; and if you disappoint mo this iime it will be the last job you will have from me." Montin promised exactitude, asked, as was usual with him, part of his pay in advance, and set himself courageously to work.. Under his skilful hand the diamond soon began to show forth its beauty • in a few more hours it would have been finished, when, unfortunately for Montin's resolutions, a friend called on him—an old comrade, who had been long absent from Paris. What could they do but take a glass together 1 They arrived at the cabaret, and the time passed quickly away, and Montin thought no moro of his unfinished work. During the morning, his employer came to see how the polishing of the diamond proceeded. The concierge assured him that Montin had only just gone out, and would not fail to return immediately, as he had for some days been working steadily and unremittingly. Only half satisfied, the jeweller went away, to return in two hours, and to find Montin still absent. Convinced he was at the tavern, the master charged one of his men to seek him, and induce him to return to his work. This was done, and Montin, grumbling between his teeth, quitted his comrade, and iiscended to his workshop : but his head was no longer clear, nor his hand steady. To add to his trouble, the diamond became unfixed ; he seized it hastily to replace it: his trembling fingers gave a jerk —and by a strange fatality, the precious stone flew out of the window ! Sobered in a moment by this terrible accident, Montin continued gazing out of ihe casement as if petrified, his pale lips murmuring the words " Lost! lost! lost!" For moro than an hour he remained almost motionless, and was only roused from his lethargy by the entrance of his master. "Is it thus you work, Montin 1 ?" exclaimed' Tie. " Three times have I called for the diamond, and you spend your time at the tavern. Give me the stone I must have it, finished or unfinished." Montin looked wildly at him, without uttering a word. "What is the matter]" asked the jeweller. Why don't you answer 1 Have you drank all your senses away 1" The lapidary tried in vain to speak : his tongue seemed paralysed. At last he rose, and hiding his face in his hands, murmured, " It—as—-lost!" " Explain yourself: what has happened J" " Out of the window." " What ? when ?" "The stone." " Well, well, well : tell mo what has occurred." "The stene flew out." Tt was now the turn of the master to become silent with astonishment. Then, furious witli rage, lie cried, " I don't believe a word of your story: you have sold my diamond to pay for your dissipation." This accusation was the coitp de gnwe for Montin. He fell fainting at the feet of his master, and it was not without difficulty that he was recalled to life, or rather to a despair which amounted almost to madness. The jeweller, who understood what was passing in his mind, tried to console him, and at last succeeded in rendering him more calm. "It is a ntost unfortunate accident," said he, " but it is not irreparable." " You do not, then, helieve that I sold your diamond for drink V said Montin, eagerly. " No, no, Montin: you must forget. what 1 said in the first moment of my anger, and let us try to find a remedy for the misfortune. The diamond was worth £2OO. You endeavour to repay the half of that sum out of your wages, which, when yon work regularly, amount to from .£3 to £i a week, With industry and sobriety, you will soon got out of debt." ' • "From this time I will work steadily," said Montin, with tears in his eyes. " You shall see that although I have been a. drunkard, I am not a thief." "I believe you," replied the jeweller. " I have evory con r ienco in you : you are a good workman. I will furnish you with plenty of work, and in a few years you will be right again, Well, will that suit you?" " Oh, yes, sir ! only tell me once more that you do not think I sold the diamond." " I repeat, on my honor, that T only said so in the first momont of anger. I am convinced that you are a.i honest man —in fact, I prove it by trusting you with more work,"

" Yes, sir, that is true ; and I jiromifid you 1 will not diwppoint you. 1 will ra> pare myfauit: the lesson has hem a severe one, but it will not lm without its fruits. Moutin kept his word, lie rose early and worked iudefutigahly; the lost stonej was replaced by another, winch was* polished as if by enchantment Faithful t<> his promise, he wont no more to the tavern, and liecuuii) a model -of steadiness and in» dustry, Before the year was out, he had. paid a considerable part of his debt. Six. teen months passed thus, when one morn* ing in May, having finished his work, he, placed himself at tho window, watching the boats passing aud repassing on tha river, which flowed close to the walls of his house. Suddenly his eyos were attracted, by something bright glittering on the ex* treme edge of an old chimney, What wan his surprise to discover his half-polished diamond. It seemed as if a breath would] precipitate it into :he water beneath ; and yet it had been there for so many months, suspended between heaven and earth. When he saw it his emotion became almost as great as on the day on which ho had seen it disappear out of the window ; he d;ue not remove hiaoyes, fearing to lose sight of his almost recovered treasure. "It is—it is my diamond, which has cost mo so many tears," said he ; but how shall I reach it 1 If it were to fall ! But no, I will take every precaution : not too fast---let me consider well! Just at this moment his employer entered the room. " Oh, sir," cried Montin, "it is there!" " What?" said the jeweller. "My diamond, or rather yours, Ah, da not touch it, or we shall lose it for ever." "It is true : it is certainly the diamond that has so tormented us ; but the difficulty is how to get it. Wait a moment, I know how to do it." So saying, lie left the room, but quickly returned, bearing in his hand a net prepared for catching butterflies. With its aid, and that of a long stick, he proceeded carefully to try and get the precious stone—Montin, hardly daring to breathe, watching all his movements with the greatest anxiety. His efforts at last were crowned with success, and he cried, "Here it is, Montin. I congratulate yon on its, recovery. lam now your debtor to tha amount of nearly one hundred pounds. What do you intend to do with tha amount V Leave it in your hand.*, sir, if you will be kind enough to keep it for me." " Most willingly j I will pay you the interest, and if you continue to add to it, you will soon have a nice little sum, replied the jeweller. In a few years Montin became partner with his master, whose daughter he mar-, ried, and he is now one of the principal jewellers in Paris.