The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-08-24
IA Romance Of Porthayen.

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There are scarcely any such houses a.
Mark Aliens left in Porthaven Harbor now.
The little back street of sixty years ago has
long since been swallowed up in an adj
mdralty dockyard, and evil-looking torpedo
boats are launched into their native element
ct the very spot where Jenny Allen used to
look through the lattice window and watch
the stately three-deckers Of old shake out
their white plumage and go gliding out of
The harbor
It was quaint little house. The front
door opened into narrow little back
street running parallel with the harbor. the
back of the house overlooked the harbor
Itself. with it's forest of tapering masts
around. The principal room was at the
back, with its window only a few feet
above the level of the water at high tide,
and when there was breeze from the west
ward, the wavelets would come splashing
Against tie wall Of the house beneath Just
below the window was a little wooden stage,
where sometimes. 1t is said, Mark ALLEN
LANDED parcel or so from his boat that was
shaped more like key than anything else.
For Mark Allen did not bear the best of
names at Porthaven. Half boatman. half
1orgshoreman, he piled a trade that was
varied in the extreme One day he would
pc seen pulling midshipman in brand
new uniform, and his chest to a frigate in
the dining. grinning over the expectation of
the guinea he was going to fleece from the
iYoung greenhorn; the next you might have
come across him with a group Of paid-on
seamen, assisting them to get rid of their
cash even more freely than their natural
inclinations prompted them; or perhaps you
might have picked up a mysterious story
of how he got a deserter clear away on the
very day his ship was to sail. Anyhow, it
was said that very little came amiss to
Mark Allen so long as there was chink of
white Dr yellow metal in it.
But they didn't say the same of his
daughter. Every one knew that Jenny was
hs honest as she bohny, just like her
poor mother, who, it was rumored, had died
OF broken heart. And in spite of her
fathers questionable ways Jenny observed
the fifth commandment bravely and kept
as comfortable a little home for her old
dad as any in Porthaven. Not but what
she might have had another home if she
had wanted one, for there was many fine
fellow on shore or sea whose heart had
been set a-fluttering by Jennys auburn red
Jocks and sparkling eyes.
And, indeed, she formed a pretty picture
as she stood one morning leaning out Of the
a pot of white carnations that stood on the
window sill. She paused for moment to
gaze out into the ofing, and a slight SILVER
seized her as her eyes fell upon an ugly
black craft that lay at anchor there.
Poor chaps" she murmured cts no
homeward bound voyage you'll be having
reckon. It's good bye to the old country
forever for most OF you when you step
aboard"
She was thinking of the passengers more
than of the crew, for the vessel was con-
vict ship on the point of sailing for Botany
Bay with a human cargo of misery and
despair under her matches.
Even the girl spoke there came a
sound as Of a regular splash of oars from
up the harbor, and, turning her head, she
saw galley approaching with half & dozen
convicts under an armed escort in the stern
sheets. The boat passing very close
only about 20 yards from where she was
Standing. and more than one oarsman look
ed out at the corner of his eyes at the fair
aassie in the window. She did not notice
them. however. Her eyes sought the little
group of convicts, and lighted upon one
In particular, PALE handsome young fell
low, who looked the very picture Of de-
spafr. Wandering aimlessly his eyes sud-
denly caught those of the young woman.
He gave a start, seemed to remember what
he was-a disgraced QUEENSLAND buried his
head in his hands from very shame. The
girl watched him curiously-watched him
till she saw him slowly raise his head again
and look around for moment at her.
Poor fellow" she sighed with a genu-
line feeling of pity, che don't look as if he'd
done anything very terrible. I wonder
what they've transported him for?"
Mark Allen was late back that evening
not uncommon occurrence. And he was
just as likely as not to be drunk when he
did return. His daughter generally sat up
for him till II on these occasions.
1t was a very dark night and a breeze
That had been freshening since sunset was
making the lattice rattle, and the little
waves splash outside. About 10 o'clock
Jenny opened the window for moment to
freshen the room. Suddenly she heard in
the distance one or two short cracks--the
reports of muskets-and caught a flash or
Two of light from the ofing. Wondering
slightly wi ut it could mean she shut the
window and took her seat again by the
FIRE.
II was after II and jenny was thinking
pf retiring when her ear caught sound
above the rattle of the lattice and the
splash of the water. She started to her feet,
her heart palpitating wildly, and listened.
Come one was surely climbing up the stag
Ing outside ah'-and was tapping at the
window. Her first impulse was to fly out
into the street. Then, setting her lips
lightly together she drew the red curtain
That hung before the window and opened
It. There was a man outside, his hands
rlung TO the window sill, and she could
lust see his pale, dripping face.
For Gods sake let me in he entreated
In hoarse whisper.
''What do you want?"
81 swear 1 won't hurt you-Tm nearly
head. I've been in the water for over an
hour"
"Who-who are your"
: s'You needn't be afraid. I've far more
rause 20 be alarmed than you"
And without waiting for further permits
sion he drew himself up and came Chamber
Ing in at the window dripping, wet OBJ
lect-a miserable, escaped convict!
; Jenny gave little shrek.
F, "Ah,". said the man, with a bitter laugh,
byou see what I am now, then? But I'll
DO you no harm-even the worst of men
wouldn't hurt a girl who gave him such a
pitying look as you did me this morning."
Jenny looked at him hard.
: ''Why," she said, "you are the man that
] saw go by in the boat
Exactly. And you probably never
thought to see me again. But the moment
of luck came, and a dive overheard from
the vessel out yonder-a splashing of bull
lets and a lowering OF boats-a swim for
life and freedom-the recognizing cf your