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387 pages

English

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Mississippi writer William Clark Falkner was the great-grandfather of another acclaimed Southern scribe, William Faulkner. The White Rose of Memphis, an enthralling whodunit that unfolds aboard a steamboat, was Falkner's bestselling and most widely read novel.

Informations

Publié par	The Floating Press
Date de parution	01 octobre 2015
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781776593095
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0134€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

THE WHITE ROSE OF MEMPHIS
* * *
WILLIAM CLARK FALKNER

*
The White Rose of Memphis From a 1909 edition Epub ISBN 978-1-77659-309-5 Also available: PDF ISBN 978-1-77659-310-1 © 2012 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
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Chapter I Chapter II Chapter III Chapter IV Chapter V Chapter VI Chapter VII Chapter VIII Chapter IX Chapter X Chapter XI Chapter XII Chapter XIII Chapter XIV Chapter XV Chapter XVI Chapter XVII Chapter XVIII Chapter XIX Chapter XX Chapter XXI Chapter XXII Chapter XXIII Chapter XXIV Chapter XXV Chapter XXVI Chapter XXVII Chapter XXVIII Chapter XXIX Chapter XXX Chapter XXXI Chapter XXXII Chapter XXXIII Chapter XXXIV Chapter XXXV Chapter XXXVI Chapter XXXVII Chapter XXXVIII Chapter XXXIX Chapter XL Chapter XLI Chapter XLII
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"Stone walls do not a prison make, Nor iron bars a cage; Minds innocent and quiet take That for an hermitage; If I have freedom in my love, And in my soul am free, Angels alone that soar above, Enjoy such liberty."
Richard Lovelace.
Chapter I
*
"Speak it out, captain; I know by your looks you have something to say,and I am full of curiosity to hear it."
"Very true, my dear fellow; I have at last hit on a scheme which I thinkwill prove very profitable, and will be glad to take you in as an equalpartner."
"Glad to hear it; I am ready for anything to make an honest living."
"I have chartered the best boat on the river, and mean to put her towork on the line between here and New Orleans, and shall of course beher commander, and would be glad to have you take charge of the office,and we will divide profits."
"I am truly grateful, captain, for the manifestation of confidencecontained in your offer, and will gladly undertake the business."
"Very good; then we may consider it settled so far. The next thing to bedone is to get up a handsome advertisement, and meantime the boat mustbe re-painted, re-furnished and overhauled generally."
"Give the necessary instructions as to these things, captain, and drawon me for my share of the expenses. By the by, what boat have youchartered?"
"The 'Star of the West;' but I will have her name changed, as I do notlike that one. What shall her new name be?"
"I leave that to you, and trust you will select a pretty name; there isnothing like having a pretty name for a pretty boat. Shakespeare wasdecidedly mistaken when he thought that there was nothing in a name."
"I agree with you there, Sam, and insist that you shall select thename."
"No, no; but I'll tell you what we will do: you write down three names,and I'll write three; we'll put them in a hat, and the first one drawnshall be her name."
"All right."
The names were written, placed in the captain's hat, and Sam wasrequested to draw out one.
"What have you got, Sam?" said the captain.
"The prettiest name that ever was seen on a wheel-house. You might havegiven me a month to think about it, and I never should have thought ofsuch a sweet-sounding name."
"Well, what is it?"
"THE WHITE ROSE OF MEMPHIS."
"I am truly glad to know that you think it a pretty name, and we willhave the letters made in gold."
"When can we be ready to start, captain?"
"It will take six weeks to get everything ready. We must manage to makea grand display when we start on our first trip."
"You had better prepare the advertisement, then, and let it appear atonce. Suppose we give a grand masquerade ball on board just before westart."
"Capital idea, Sam; we'll make the first trip one of pleasure, so as toattract the attention of the public. I'll prepare the advertisement atonce."
The foregoing conversation was carried on between Captain Oliver Quitmanand Samuel Brazzleman, two well-known and very popular steam-boat men ofMemphis, whose experience in that business had won for them anestablished reputation for reliability and integrity.
The following advertisement appeared in one of the morning papers a fewdays after the conversation above related:
The new and splendid passenger boat, "White Rose of Memphis," has been purchased by Captain Oliver Quitman, and will be put on the line between Memphis and New Orleans. She will start on her first trip at 9 A. M., on May 1st, for the Crescent City, under the immediate command of her owner. Samuel Brazzleman will officiate at the clerk's desk, and Dave Halliman, at the wheel. The old reliable river man, Thomas Henderson, has agreed to take charge of the engine. Professor Frazzlebrains's splendid string band has been employed to make music for the amusement of the passengers. A grand masquerade ball will be given on board the "White Rose" on the evening of the 30th inst., and arrangements will be made to continue the amusement every night during the round trip. The grand saloon is eminently suited for dancing parties, and has been gorgeously furnished with everything necessary to make the passengers comfortable. It is the intention of the captain to make the first trip one of pleasure and amusement. Reduced rates will be given to excursion parties who may apply for them for the round trip.
This advertisement (as might be expected) created quite a sensationamong the fair sex of Memphis, and added very greatly to the cashreceipts of silk merchants and milliner shops; while it caused acorresponding shrinkage in the money bags of doting parents ofmarriageable daughters. Memphis was then, and is now, famous for thebeauty of her women, and the muddiness of her streets. Cotton bales andpretty women seem to be a spontaneous production in and about Memphis,and, in spite of bad government and yellow fever epidemics, she ishandsome and lively still.
"Well, Sam, old fellow, what do you think of the prospect?"
"Splendid! we have made a ten strike this time—every room has beenengaged, and still they come."
"Is she not a beauty, Sam?"
"Never saw her match in my life. What's the time, captain?"
"Eight thirty, and time for the maskers to begin to arrive; by the by,here they come now. Has the music arrived?"
"Long, long ago, captain; everything is ready."
"Good, Sam; we must put our best foot foremost to-night; much depends onfirst impressions. Have you got plenty of wines and ice?"
"Oceans, oceans of all kinds."
This conversation occurred on board of the "White Rose," between CaptainQuitman and Samuel Brazzleman, who were both rejoicing at the prospectof a remunerative trip, which was to begin on the next morning. Beforenine o'clock the dazzling lights in the long saloon were streaming downon the vast crowd of maskers as they glided along through the mazes ofthe dance; while soft, sweet sounds floated out on the night air.Fantastic costumes, sparkling jewels, white, blue and red plumes,rustling silk, shining satin, soft velvet, sparkling diamonds,high-heeled boots, splendid music, the popping of champagne bottles, thehum of many voices, the merry laughter, the brisk and graceful movementof charming women, were all contributing to the dazzling show. All kindsof costumes were to be seen, old-fashioned and new, gaudy and plain.Mary, Queen of Scots, with her rich, royal costume of Scotland, allbedecked with sparkling diamonds, was dancing with Ingomar, theBarbarian Chief, with his savage beard reaching to his waist, and histop-boots all shaded with gold. The knight of Ivanhoe, with hisglittering armor on, was dancing with the first maid of honor, who woreblue silk, and yellow mask. Don Quixote, the Knight of Salamanca,dressed in shabby but quaint armor, was jumping high and awkwardly, ashe danced with the second maid of honor, who was a graceful dancer,dressed in orange-colored silk with pink mask. Henry of Navarre, withhis black plume waving high above the throng, was marching up and downthe saloon with the queen of Sheba leaning on his arm. Sancho Panza,with his clownish costume, was playing the clown to perfection, to thegreat amusement of the children. The Duke of Wellington and Napoleonwere taking a mint julep at the bar, while George III. was quarrelingwith Sam Brazzleman because he wouldn't tell him the name of the ladywho represented the Queen of Scots.
"Positively against our rules to divulge the names of parties in mask,without their consent," says Sam.
"Well, does she reside in Memphis?"
"Can't answer; I tell you it is contrary to orders."
"Is she going to New Orleans on this boat?"
"Yes."
"Good! I'll find out who she is, if I follow her to the other side ofthe world!" and the imitator of the defunct tyrant made his way to wherethe mysterious queen stood conversing with her Barbarian Chief.
"Who is that lady dancing with Ingomar?" inquired George III. ofIvanhoe.
"Do not know; wish I did."
"I'll give a hundred dollars to know who she is."
"I'll go you halves," says Ivanhoe.
George III. and Ivanhoe were not the only ones who wanted to know whowas personating the Scottish queen. It seemed to be a general desireamong the male maskers to know who she was. It is hard to say whatcaused this general wish to know who she was. It might have been causedby a combination of circumstances. There appeared to be a desire on thepart of the gentlemen to get near her. Was it the soft, sweet melody ofher voice, or was it the queen-like grace of her movements? Perhaps itwas the profusion of golden hair that fell, unconfined, beneath thequaint crown of sparkling jewels that graced her brow; or it may havebeen the little provoking, pretty foot that now and then made itsappearance as she floated like a fairy over