Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images available at The Internet Archive) THE WHITE ROSE OF MEMPHIS: A Novel. BY W. C. FALKNER. “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._ M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY CHICAGO NEW YORK COPYRIGHT, 1881, BY G. W. CARLETON & CO. COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY J. W. T. FALKNER. _White Rose of Memphis._ PUBLISHERS’ PREFACE. For thirty-one years, this book has met popular favor, and a sale of _one hundred and sixty thousand copies_. Its sale now is steadily increasing, notwithstanding the worn condition of the plates. _This 35th edition_, now printed from new plates, is offered, believing it will outlive its fifty-six years of copyright. But few works of fiction are accredited with such favor, or with such extensive circulation. THE WHITE ROSE OF MEMPHIS. 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 think will prove very profitable, and will be glad to take you in as an equal partner.” “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 to work on the line between here and New Orleans, and shall of course be her 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 confidence contained in your offer, and will gladly undertake the business.” “Very good; then we may consider it settled so far. The next thing to be done is to get up a handsome advertisement, and meantime the boat must be re-painted, re-furnished and overhauled generally.” “Give the necessary instructions as to these things, captain, and draw on me for my share of the expenses. By the by, what boat have you chartered?” “The ‘Star of the West;’ but I will have her name changed, as I do not like that one. What shall her new name be?” “I leave that to you, and trust you will select a pretty name; there is nothing like having a pretty name for a pretty boat. Shakespeare was decidedly mistaken when he thought that there was nothing in a name.” “I agree with you there, Sam, and insist that you shall select the name.” “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 drawn shall be her name.” “All right.” The names were written, placed in the captain’s hat, and Sam was requested to draw out one. “What have you got, Sam?” said the captain.