Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-04-06
The Stary Teller.
JOHN HARLEY'S MARRIAGE.
CHAPTER T.

CHAPTER l.
1t was blowing strong southeaster on
November morning in 1856, as I landed a
Long Wharf, San Francisco from the stor
ship, lying out in the stream, of which I the1
had charge. l had not proceeded many step.
toward Montgomery street, the principal bust
ness thOroughfare of the city, when a heay,
hand was laid on my shoulder, and l recog.
nlzed the CHEEKY voice Of John Harley, the
most intimate friend had made since my ar
rival in California, some sixteen months be-
fore.
''The very man, Ingram, that wanted to
see! | only arrived from Stockton, half an
hour ago, and was just coming off to your old
tub to bring you on shore for 1 want your
advice and assistance, and that immediately
The bark Albert Allen is to be sold at auction
to-day at one O'Clock, and as hear she is fine
vessel, wish you to come and look at her
and if you think well of it will hid up to a
reasonable figure, more partioularly if You Will
take command of her, and take aga;.t 90 the
high seas instead of burying yourself In store
ship"
''You buy ship, Harley! Surely, with your
mining claims and city lots, you must have
quite enough on your hands," said l, in some
surprise.
Il have nothing of the sort for have sold
out everything but the Caboose and lot in Hap
py Valley, which, in consideration OF the
sum of one dollar to me in hand paid, shall
bargain, sell and convey to Mrs. Sullivan, who
nursed me so well some months ago. Her
husband, you know, was shot in a gambling
house and she is left with three children
though, by the way, think she is better with
out him, the reckless, drunken fellow! Come.
want some breakfast; and then we will 60
and look at the vessel, and I'll tell you all my
plans.''
John Harley was an Englishman of indepen-
dent means. His father being a wealthy man,
who had no other child, had, on his coming of
age, settled liberal fortune upon him. While
making tour in the United States, curiosity
and love of new scenes and adventures, had
drawn Harley to the Far West Ell Dorado,
without any notion then of gain. Catching,
however, the universal fever of enterprise ra-
ging around him, he had pecuniarily interested
himself in several undertakings.
Harley had made the acquaintance OF Herr
Van Dusen, Dutch merchant from Batavia,
(the chief town of the island of Jaya), 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 med
ical advisers. Two months of their society
had proved sufficient to settle the matter, so
far as John Harley was concerned, and the
taken John Harley's daguerreotype and piece
OF his hair enclosed in Il gold locket, as a SOU
venir of her English lover. The uncle would
hear of no engagement without her mothers
consent but Harley had promised, as soon as
he could wind up his California interests, to
follow them to Batavia and endeavor to OBJ
tain that consent.
All of this he related to me at breakfast,
and great deal more, which is not worth re-
ia hai,,r irtar
esting only to themselves. Learned, however,
from him that Miss Van Dusen's mother was
an English woman, whose husband having re-
tired from the conarnand of one of the famous
Dutch East 1ndiaman TIno, Ind hecome mer-
chant in Batavia, and had there died, leaving
a widow and this one daughter.
At the time of which write, English ships
in California were sold 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 sold at sheritf's
sale, to defray the Indebtedness incurred since
their arrival Awaiting himself of these cir
cumstances, Harley desired to make something
out of his trip to Batavia, the more so as there
was no other way of getting thither without
tedious and trying delay. After our inspec-
tion, therefore, he purchased the ship at the
auction for sum equivalent to about one
thousand pounds
Of our passage, as being without any note
worthy incident, it is enough to say that, With
remarkably fine weather, it was pleasant TILL
almost the last day that it was rapid, from
favorable winds and fast vessel in excellent
sailing trim, and that on the thirty-ninth day
we anchored in Singapore Roads. Within two
days of our arrival at Singapore tolerably
good charter was obtained for the Albert Allen
to proceed to Java, and return, which would
probably take about two months. Our char
terer, shrewd Portuguese trader there, put
supercargo on board to look after his interests );
and as he was urgent for our departure, and as
Harley was not less so, on the S..ith day from
our dropping our anchor we again weighed and
sailed for Batavia, where, after somewhat
prolonged passage, we safely arrived.
The anchor had hardly reached the bottom
ere Harley would have showed off in a shore
boat for the landing, but that l had to check
him till the usual port regulations had been
complied with breach of which would have
involved him in great trouble and expense. A
full hour and half was he fuming and fret
ting, all the forms having been gone through,
he left us, waving his hat, and urging the
boatman to renewed eXertiOnS, in his haste to
get to Mr.. Van Dusen's offices.
Everything seemed so far to favor Harley's
hopes Mr.. Van Dusen took him home with
him some miles from the town and the same
evening he was made acquainted with Miss
Susette Van Dusens mother. This was on
the Monday and on the Thursday | 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 Mr.. Van Dusen Oh
the following day, together with an apology
for the consequent shOrtneSS of the invitation,
which was of course sent out of compliment
to Harley, who had mentioned me as a most
intimate friend.
At Mr.. Van Dusen's met his sister-in-law,
Mrs Van Dusen, and her daughter and Ger.
tain.y a more charming girl it had seldom been
my lot 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 in
troductory letters to gentlemen in Batavia
had been perfectly satisfactory to both Miss
Dusen's uncle and mother that the consent
of the latter had been given, and the marriage
he hoped would take place in about month
On the 18th day of March / returned from
Surabaya to Batavia, with a full cargo fol
Singapore, and as Harley was to be married
the next morning | would be able to attenC
as best man to my friend, and sail the same
evening for my destination.
Very beautiful looked Susette in her brida
dress and supremely happy was Harley a
they stood before the clergyman and were join
ed in the bonds of matrimony. A most taste
full dejeuner was laid out at Mrs. Van Dusen'
pretty country residence and at two o'clocl
I took my leave, having some ships busnes
to transact before sailing. The newly married
pair were to leave in the cool of the evening
for another house of Mrs. Van Dusen'S on