The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1905-04-26
UNFINISHED NOVELS.
TALES THAT WERE STOPPED BY THE
HAND OF DEATH.

Nathaniel Hawthorne's Forebodine
About ''The Dolliver Romance
The Fragment That Stevenson Left
Thnckerny's Last Work.
George Gissing's "Yaranilda" is a
masterpiece that its author did not live
10 finish. One we'll known critic consid-
ers this tale of the Roman and the
Goth the deceased writer's finest work,
and, though many may question this
judgment, there can exist but universal
regret that the romance must forever
remain incomplete.
A greater work by greater writer,
"Weir sf Hermiston," by R. L. Steven
son, was left a mere fragment of
which the lurid grandeur proved that
its creator was taken from us in the
zenith of his power. Another romance,
"St. Ives" by the same pen, was run
ming in a monthly magazine at the time
of his premature death. Here, however,
readers were not baked Of a satisfacto-
ry denouement, for the story was
brought to conclusion by Mr.. CUTLER
Couch, well known under the nom de
plume of 60"
Il hardly know what to say to the
public about this abortive romance,
though | pretty well know what the
case will be- 1 shall never finish it."
wrote Nathaniel Hawthorne with ref
erence to "The Dolliver Romance"
which he had undertaken to write for
the Atlantic Monthly This foreboding
was but too soon verified for the au-
thor had scarce time to do more than
lay the groundwork of the story and
write the initial chapters ere death
struck him down.
At his funeral at Concord the scarce
commenced manuscript lay upon his
coffin. Soon afterward the first chapter
appeared in the Atlantic, and subse-
quently the second chapter, which he
had been unable to revise, was publish
ed in the same periodical. Several years
elapsed when a third fragment, revised
and copied by the novelist's wife, was
placed in the publishers hands. The
original manuscript is now preserved in
the Concord public library.
Wives and Daughters" was running
in the Cornhill when the authoress
Mrs. Gaskell, died. Fortunately the
work was nearing its completion, SC
that, although it was not actually fin
lshed by the gifted writer, the plot was
sufficiently advanced to enable ms IN
make more than shrewd guess al. the
ultimate fate of the characters and IN
take leave Of the hero fully assured of
his ultimate happiness.
Another serial that was being written
Tor the same magazine when its author
laid down pen forever was Denis In.
val" Thackeray, indeed. was already
In his grave when its publication com.
menced. Three parts and a portion of
fourth were all that appeared and
the story" wrote the editor ''breaks
on as his life ended-full of vigor and
blooming with new promise like tbe
apple trees In this month of Nav ;,
Win the fourth, part was given a set Of
notes, taken from Thackeray's own ma
pers' elucioatory Of the subsequent de-
velopment Of the plot.
Thackeray's great contemporarv
CHARLES Dickens. died, too. IN harness
FOR long his health had been but N.
alherent' but be stuck unaInchIngly 10
Lhe work he had IN hand. On June :
1870 the end came. The morning ana
enft OF The afternoon OF that day were
psgolso % completing the sixth mum.
Dsf oi The Mystery Of Edwin DroodD
Dul scarcely had be finished work ana
.ai ap"n - dinner ere be- was seized
WI o. From this hs meyer reoov.
49, ppt hfter lipferiDR some hours
'hYYuf fegeinlng o0nsclousness disi
"a y tle neat Dag,
r',pp publish lac ip ihis yearD
'fy'' l@niflee stoUe, Hand az ny,
HNNV hf|N 4 upN work ln f.i,,. ~