Litchfield enquirer., 1881-04-21
JOHN HARLEY's MARRIAGE.
2 CHAPTER I.4.i !

AOuS w hAEi, Cau rFduclSCO,s rom tne StOfo- ship, lying out in The stream, of which then had charge. l had not proceeded many steps toward Montgomery street, the principal busi. ness thoroughfare of the city, when heavy hand was laid on my shoulder, and recog- nized the cheery voice of John Harley, the most intimate friend 1 had made since my arrival in California some sixteen months be- fore. za.-faF # ' #u. 7
 ''The very man, Ingram, that wanted to see! Ionly arrived from Stockton half an hour ago, and Was just coming of to your old tub to bring you on siIore: for want yotif advice and assistance, and that immediately. The bark Albert Allen is to be sold at auction to day at one o'clock, and as l hear she is q fine vesselI wish you to come and look at her; and if you think well of it will bid up to a reasonable figure, more particularly if you will take command of her, and take again to the high seas instead of burying yourself in storeship." ti 7 sa5 T
 You buy ship, Harleyl Surely, with your mining claims and city lots, you must have quite enough on your hands," said in some surprise. esS .'"'"' ''f'
 Il have nothing of the sort; for have sold out everything but the Caboose and lot in Happy Valley, which, in consideration of the sum of one dollar to me in hand paid, I shall bargain, sell and convey to Mrs. Sullivan
 
 Her husband. you know. was shot in the gambling house; and she is left with three children thouga. by the way. think she is better without him, the reckless drunken fel low! Come 1 want some breakfast and ! then we will go and look at tue vessel, and I'll tell you all my plans''
 John Harley was an Englishman of inde- pendent means. His father, being wealthy man, who had no other child, had on his con ing of age settled a liberal income upon him. While making tour in the United States, curiosity and a love of new scenes and ad- ventures had drawn Harley to the Far West Eldorad" without any notion then of gain Catching, however, the universal fever of en- terprise raging around him, he had pecuniar- lily interested himself in several undertak- | ings. .. ...... Harley had made the acquaintance of Herr Van Duset, Dutch merchant from Batavia (the chief town of the island of Java), who had come thence in vessel of his own. He was accompanied by his niece, the daughter of his deceased brother and partner, sea voyage having been recommended for her by her medical advisers. Two months of their society had proved sufficient to settle the matter, so far as John Harley was concerned i; 1 and the young lady, on her departure for home, had taken bOhn's daguerreOtype. and a piece of his hair enclosed in a gold lscket, as souvenir of her English lover. The uncle | would hear of nc engagement without her mothers consent; but Harley had promised as soon as he could wind up his California in terests, to sollow them to Batavia and endeav- or to obtain that consent
 All of this he. related to me at breakfast and great deal more winch is not worth re beating, lovers' rhapsodies being really inter- l esting only to themselves. learned, how ever, from him that Miss Van Dusen's moth CT was an Englishwonian, whose husband hay Ing retired from the command of one of the famous Dutch East Indiamen line. and be come merchant in Batavia, and had there l died, leaving widow and this one daugh ter. at7 At the time of which write, English ships | in California were s Ild very frequently at ex tremely low prices. Deserted by their crews, and not unfrequently by their captains also, ] the ships were sacrificed often for less than one fourth of their value, when solo at sheriffs sale, to defray the indebtedness incurred since their arrival. Availing himself of these cir cumstances, Harley desired to make some thing out of his trip, to Batavia the more soa | there was no other way of getting thither without tedious and trying delay. After our inspection. therefore he purchased. the ship | at the auction for a sum equivalent to about one thousand pounds
 Of our passage. as being without any note worthy incident, it is enough to say that, with l remarkably fne weather, it was pleasant till almost the last day; that it was rapid, froG' favorable winds and fast vessel in excellent sailing trim, and that on the thirty ninth day | we anchored in Singapore Roads. Within two days nf our arrival at Singapore toler- bly good character was obtained for the Albert Allen to proceed to Java, and return, which | would probably take about two months. Our charterer, shrewd Portuguese trader there. put a supercargo on board to look after his Tn terests; and as he was urgent for our depart ure, and as Harley was not less SO, on the. sixth day from our dropping our anchor we again weighed and sailed tor Batavia, where after somewhat prolonged passage, we safe ly arrived.
 The anchor had hardly reached the bottom ere Harley would have showed of in shore boat for the landing, but that had to check him till the usual port regulations had been complied with, a breach of which would have involved him in great trouble and expense. A full hour and half was he fuining and fret ting before, all the forms having been gone through, he left us. waving his hat, and urg ing the boatmen to renewed exertions, in his haste to get to Mir. Van Dusen's offices
 Everything seemed SO far to favor Harley's hopes. Mir. Van Dusen took him home with him some miles from the town; and the same evening he was made acquainted with Miss Susette Van Dusen's mother. This was On the Monday and on the Thursday 1 was to sail for Surabaya in the Albert Allen, to get her cargo, and would touch at. Batavia on my return voyage to Singapore. In view of my speedy departure. the next morning received an invitation to dine with MT. Van Dusen on the following day, together with an apology for the consequent sliGrtness of the invitation, which was of course sent out of compliment to Harley, who had mentioned me as most intimate friend! ~r .- f.-l4st t'
 At Mir. Van Dusen's met his sister in law, Mrs. Van Dusen, and her daughter and cer- tainly more charming girl it had seldom been my k,t to see Harley informed me that the letters and references as to his standing and character, which had been forwarded to him. by his father to Singapore. together with introductory letters to gentlemen in Batavia. had been perfectly satisfactory to both Miss Van Dusen's uncle and mother; that the con- sent of the latter had been given, and the mar riage he hoped would take place in about month. ' -.' '..5s'tF .- .5.- '
 On the 18th day of March I returned from Surabaya to Batavia with full cargo for Singapore, and as Harley was to be married the next morning would be able to attend as best man to my friend, and sail the same eve ming for my destination. ...-..
 Very beautiful looked Susette in her bridal dress; and supreinely happy was Harley as they stood before the. clergyman and were joined in the bonds of matrimony. A most tasteful dejeuner was laid out at Mrs. Van Dusen's pretty country residence; and at two o'clock I took my leave, having, some ships business to transact before sailing. The new ly married pair were to leave in the cool of the evening for another honse of Mrs Van Dusen's. on plantation fourteen miles dis iant. there to pass the first few days of the honeymoon. .4 ....f ..-..:.... s-s
 It was nearly sunset before had concluded all the ships business and returned on board Everything was in readiness for sailing, so that as soon as got on board gave orders to get underway. Just as the windlass was manned note from Harley was brought of in shore-b boat. T. opened it, and was com D etely astounded at it's ;cnntents:s 7-aiia8s y.r
 Don't trip your anchor till come. l am going with you. Take ny traps on board.
 A. aEE E(y sLNas%f