Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-01-28
CHAPTER VIII.
A QUEER SURPRISE.


land behind us, as narrated in the pre-.
vious chapter, we had brought the Ma
dura coast we'll abeam and were dodg-
ing along it waiting for darkness to fall
in order to get into Probolingo harbor.
Here it was arranged should leave the
yacht and travel by the Nederlands-ln-
dia line of steamers to Batavia. YES
sci of this line, so we had discovered,
called at Probolingo about the end OF
each month, and for this reason our ar
rival was timed for the afternoon OF the
day of her departure.
Shortly before 8 O'Clock we brought
up at the anchorage about mile from
the shore. It was lovely afternoon,
and could see that the steamer which
was to carry me on was already prepar-
ing for her departure. The boat was
alongside, my traps were Safely slowed
in her, and nothing remained but to bid
Allie goodby. AS soon as this was ao-
complished l went down the gangway,
took my seat in the stern. and we push.
ed off. Ten minutes later l was on
board the steamer Van Tromp, had paid
my passage money, secured my berth
and was waiting to see what the next
item of the programme would be.
From the deck of the Dutch vessel, as
Dhe swept by us under full sail, her
course set for Batavia, the Lone Star
looked as pretty craft as any man
could wish to see noticed, however,
that during the three months she had
been in her own harbor her color and
indeed her whole appearance had been
entirely changed. When first / had
made her acquaintance. she was white
as the driven snow; now she was Pc
ouliar shade of red Her bows seemed
buffer than when l had seen her last.
Indeed from the present shape and con-
struction of her masts and gear it would
have been extremely difficult to tell her
for the same vessel.
At 6 o'clock and in the eye Of glori.
ous sunset we got up our pressure and
steamed out to sea- Of that voyage there
is little to tell The Van Tromp was a
clumsy old tub of an almost obsolete
pattern, and by the time we reached
Tanjong Prick, as the seaport OF Bata-
via is called, | had had about enough
of her.
Once there, I repacked my bag and
stepped on to the wharf, resolved to
take the first train to the city. Arriving
there, dro direct to the hotel whose
name Allie had given me and booked my
room.
Batavia is pretty place, and at the
time of our visit it was looking its best.
So far had seen nothing of Allie, and l
did not like to make inquiries concern
ing her lest by so doing l might excite
suspicion. To while away the time till
dinner I lit cigar and, seating myself
in the long veranda that surrounded the
house, read my book, keeping watch
full eye on the folk about me all the
time
Shortly before o'clock l noticed that
the Dutch ladies in my neighborhood
ordered afternoon tea and partook of it
in the veranda Not to be outdone, l
followed their example. But just as
was about to pour myself out a cup an
interruption occurred which presently
assumed annoying proportions.
The table, on which my Malay boy
had placed the tray. stood in the full
glare of the afternoon sun, and this be-
ing hotter than liked bade him move
it nearer to the wall, and to facilitate
matters myself took up the tray on which
.eood br;,np,ipo fu11 Iuct q ha
was putting the table down. however,
two strange ladies turned the corner OF
the veranda and came toward US. The
taller and younger of the two was fine
dark woman, with wealth OF beautiful
brown hair rolled tightly behind her
head She was dressed in well fitting
travelling dress, wore what | believe IS
called sailor hat and walked with
carriage that would have even attracted
attention in the most crowded street in
the world. Her companion was an older
woman and, if one might judge by ap.
pearances, nearer 80 than 90, with a
fine, aristocratic face and considerable
quantity of gray hair heaped in little
corkscrew curls all over her head.
When they came level with where l
stood, stepped back to let them pass.
but in doing so came into collision with
the younger lady. How it happened l
cannot say, but the result was in every
way disastrous. The tray slipped and
would have fallen had | not caught it
in time, but the cup of tea was too
quick for me and fell to the ground,
splashing the young lady's pretty gray
dress beyond hope of remedy in its de-
scent The cup and saucer were broken
into hundred pieces. For a moment
the fair sufferer stood silent, hardly, l
suppose, knowing what to say, but when
commenced my apologies and Waited
to- run to my room for cloth with