The Doves


Soiled doves or "Ladies of Negotiable Affections" came from all walks of life. Many did not intend to descend (or ascend) into such a lifestyle, but circumstances overtook them and they ended up either in the care of a good madam, or like many of the poor Chinese, in cribs selling their bodies for a dime a poke. Life brought them heartache, financial gain, the love of a good man or death.
	Cheyenna Chevallier - Madam of the Scarlet Thread Cheyenna is the granddaughter of a French Saint-Domingue refugee who came to New Orleans in the early 1800's. She was raised by her nana' and her mother, Eliana, who was a member of the The Théâtre de la Renaissance, which opened in 1840 and had an all-black cast, orchestra and musical director. Her father was killed in a carriage accident by a reckless driver near Jackson Square on his way to see his daughter. She grew up at her grandmother's side, learning the ways of African and Haitian culture in the form of voodoo/hoodoo practices, and the language, oral traditions, and dance steps of Mardi Gras Indian rites. It was only natural to be welcomed into the most prestigeous gentlemen houses in the township. As a young woman, she was introduced at the Dragoon Balls, where she caught the eye of a wealthy General who plucked her from society and ensconsed her as Madam of the Filles de Joie. There was talk that she aided the slaves in escaping by being a conduit to the underground railroad. It is most likely rumor, since why would a whore be concerned with others finding freedom?
		Josephine Hensley Josephine Hensley, or Josie as she commonly goes by, was born on June 18th of the year of 1846 to two wonderful parents. Her parents having been from Italy, and moving to the American soil right after they found out she was to be born in the hopes of giving their child a better life like many immigrants from other countries of the time. And Josie did indeed have a good life, even getting to attend school, and etiquette school. Her father being quite lucky and landing very nicely paying job, while her wonderful mother took care of the house and all the family affairs in that matter. And this whole time, Josie lived in happiness and joy, not needing a single thing, and not wanting much as she was given everything she would hope to want. This was the way her life was supposed to go. Happy and peaceful. But on her eighteenth birthday she decided that New York City just would no longer suit her own wants and desires. And one day just left her house in New York. For some strange reason, which she may never understand, something just began calling her West. So she decided to set out and see what else was in this wide world. And this choice put her on the very next train west. Envisioning seeing the entire west as she bumped along down those tracks in that train, passing through different towns and cities, and passing beyond a whole lifestyle and time for her. To the four winds it ends up being scattered as she heads off to find whatever calls her West now. Her travels did however eat away the bits of funds she had taken with her, showing the slight bit of poor planning on her part as she ended up in a small town in the middle of Iowa when her funds ran out. But one night she was shown her answer to all of her problems. An easy way for her to get the very money she needed, and wanted to continue on her voyages. And that money source was by becoming a Working Girl. This new lifestyle suddenly giving her a different way of traveling further and further west. And by stage from one small town to the next has become her favorite way of doing these things now. And in every of these little towns she finds someone, or something that makes her just begin to like it. It makes her begin to think about staying there and planting roots. But about when then is when that urge kicks in for her, and up she packs and heads out once more on her long trips towards the West. And now her trip West has seemed to pause once again. Here, in Lago to learn what this place has to offer for her. And like everywhere else, one day she will find that thing that truly makes her want to stay here, and it will be that exact moment that this place will be dropped and she will move on like a tumbleweed in the wind...Or will she?

May 14, 1867, 18:55:51

Cheyenna Chevallier - Madam of the Scarlet Thread

Josephine Hensley