Cover of The Promise

The Promise

  • Free to read
  • 6 hours to read
  • 53 chapters
  • Reading level: 7th grade

"The Promise" by James B. Hendryx is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around William Carmody, a young man caught between his reckless lifestyle in New York City and the expectations of his father, Hiram Carmody, a wealthy banker. As William grapples with issues of identity, love, and the consequences of his choices, he faces a turning point that propels him towards a more meaningful life amidst the rugged backdrop of the Great Northwest. At the start of the novel, William wakes up in a disheveled state after a night of heavy drinking, experiencing physical discomfort and nausea. As he contemplates his life and the prospect of facing his disapproving father, we learn about William's tumultuous relationship with the equally strong-willed Ethel Manton, the woman he loves. Ethel challenges him to strive for success and abandon his careless ways, setting the stage for a transformative journey. The dynamic between William and his father, marked by disappointment and expectation, is further complicated by a series of events that lead to William deciding to leave his past behind and seek redemption and purpose, introducing the reader to themes of ambition, family tension, and personal growth.

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  • Western stories
  • Northwestern States

Read the opening

Chapter I

THE PACE

Young Carmody awoke to the realization of another day.

The sun of mid-forenoon cast a golden rhombus on the thick carpet, and through the open windows the autumnal air, stirred by just the suspicion of a breeze, was wafted deliciously cool against his burning cheeks and throbbing temples.

He gazed about the familiar confines of the room in puffy-eyed stupidity.

There was a burning thirst at his throat, and he moistened his dry lips with a bitter-coated tongue. His mouth was lined with a brown slime of dead liquor, which nauseated him and sent the dull ache to his head in great throbbing waves.

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Contents

Show all 53 chapters
  1. Front Matter
  2. Chapter I
  3. Chapter II: "Broadway Bill"
  4. Chapter III
  5. Chapter IV
  6. Chapter V: "Thief!"
  7. Chapter VI
  8. Chapter VII
  9. Chapter VIII
  10. Chapter IX
  11. Chapter X
  12. Chapter XI
  13. Chapter XII
  14. Chapter XIII
  15. Chapter XIV
  16. Chapter XV
  17. Chapter XVI
  18. Chapter XVII
  19. Chapter XVIII: "Bird's-Eye" and Philosophy
  20. Chapter XIX
  21. Chapter XX
  22. Chapter XXI
  23. Chapter XXII
  24. Chapter XXIII
  25. Chapter XXIV
  26. Chapter XXV: "The-Man-Who-Cannot-Die"
  27. Chapter XXVI
  28. Chapter XXVII
  29. Chapter XXVIII
  30. Chapter XXIX
  31. Chapter XXX
  32. Chapter XXXI
  33. Chapter XXXII
  34. Chapter XXXIII
  35. Chapter XXXIV
  36. Chapter XXXV
  37. Chapter XXXVI
  38. Chapter XXXVII
  39. Chapter XXXVIII
  40. Chapter XXXIX
  41. Chapter XL
  42. Chapter XLI
  43. Chapter XLII
  44. Chapter XLIII
  45. Chapter XLIV
  46. Chapter XLV
  47. Chapter XLVI
  48. Chapter XLVII
  49. Chapter XLVIII
  50. Chapter XLIX
  51. Chapter L
  52. Chapter LI
  53. Chapter LII

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About this edition

This free edition of The Promise by James B. Hendryx comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #23730, released 2007-12-04. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Novels, American Literature.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

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