Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-04-26
UNFINISHED NOVELS.
TALES THAT WE'RE STOPPED BY THE
HAND OF DEATH.

The Fragment That Stevenson Left.
Thacl<eray's Last Work.
George Gissing's "Varanilda" is a
masterpiece that its author did not live
to 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 a greater writer,
"Weir Of Hermiston," by r. L. Steven
son, was left a mere fragment, Of
Its creator was taken from us In the
Renith Of his power. Another romance,
"St Ives," by the same pen, was rum
ming in monthly magazine at the time
of his premature death. Here, however,
readers were not baked Of q satisfact0-
~ denouement, for the story was
brought to conclusion by Mr.. CUTLER
Couch, we'll known under the nom de
plume Of Co."
| huOW WudI W 00y " SA0
public about this abortive romance,
though l pretty we'll know what the
case will be. shall never finish it."
wrote Nathaniel Hawthorne with ref
erence to 1.-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, &C
that, although it was not actually I'm
ished by the gifted writer, the plot was
sufficiently advanced to enable us tC
make more than a shrewd guess at the
take leave of the hero fully assured OF
his ultimate happiness.
Another serial that was being written
for the same magazine when its author
laid down pen forever was "Denis Du
val" Thackeray, indeed, was already
in his grave when its publication com
menced. Three parts and portion Of
a fourth were all that appeared, and
''the story" wrote the editor, 'breaki
of as his life ended-full Of vigor and
blooming with new promise like thu
apple trees in this month of May
With the fourth part was given a set o.
notes, taken from Thackeray's own pa
pers, elucidatory Of the subsequent de
, velopment of the plot.
Thackeray's great contemporary
Charles Dickens, died. too, in harness
For long his health had been but in
different, but he stuck unflinchingly t.
, the work he had in hand. On June 6
, 1870, the end came. The morning ant
part Of the afternoon of that day wer
devoted to completing the sixth mum
Der of 1.-THE Mystery Of Edwin brood,
but scarcely had he finished work ant
; sat down to dinner ere he was seize'
with q fit. From this he never recov
I cred, but after lingering some hours
: without regaining consciousness, die
: at 6 the next day.
j 81 shall publish late in this year,
}. wrote Laurence Sterne, land the mex
q I shall begin a new work in four vo
: umes. which, finished, l shall c0ntinu
9 'Tristram' with fresh spirit" This ne,
e work here referred to is the Sent
e mental Journey" one volume alone Q
which was ever given to the world, no
= by reason of the authors death wa
the immortal "Tristram Shandy" eve
continued.
Arcadia" the pastoral romano
b which Sir Philip Sidney composed 9
e Wilton House, was never completed an
g ran no small danger Of being entirel
II lost to future generations when II
author. before his death. gave orde,
!" for its destruction.
e Only about 16O manuscript pages {
% Benjamin Disraeli's last novel, whic
brought the story up to the first doze
lines Of chapter 10, was all that va
1t written when the brilliant writer lal
to aside his pen forever.
n VIM want tha nava rad thu A