Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-06-18
Ills Imaginary
Love
She Haunted Him, bat He
Finally Got Rid of Her.
By WILLIAM CHANDLER


Andrew Harris attentions to Miss
Margaret Fisher puzzled her. At one
time he would seem like u lover; at
another he would not. During these
latter periods he appeared to BIO In a
dream; there would be n PARKWAY look
In his eyes, and there would be no
warmth In his manner for her.
He had spoken no word of love to
Miss Fisher; otherwise she might have
asked him why his bearing toward her
was so different ut times. As 1t was,
she could only take no outward notice
of his moods and wait for him to ex-
plain them. But after having endured
them long while they began to wear
upon her, and she resolved to bring
the matter to crisis. She treated him
coldly.
This brought him to terms. He
made confession. He told her that
some time before he first met her he
had received letter from a girl, who
wrote that she had seen him and had
given him her heart Her maidenly
modesty would not permit her to make
this confession were it not that she
would conceal her identity. To tell
him that she loved him was n comfort
to her which she could not deny her
self. He need not endeavor to find
her because she had taken special
pains to prevent his doing so.
Mr.. Hart added to his confession
that he had ever since the receipt of
this letter been haunted by an image
Of the writer that he had conjured up
in his imagination. He confessed his
love for Miss Fisher, but declared that
he could not Danish permanently this
being who loved him In secret and was
deferred from revealing herself, giving
modesty as the reason, though 1t seem
ed that there must be some additional
reason which she had not made known.
This revelation could not fail to
place Miss Fisher In n trying position,
It was the same as IL Mr.. Hart had
told her that he loved two girls, the
one flesh and blood, the other part real
and part imaginary. But since he had
never seen the writer of the note she
was to him all imaginary. Miss Fisher
had expected proposal from Mr..
Hart and had made up her mind to
accept II when II came. To lose him
on account Of mythical creature who
might and might not have an exist.
ence would be a disappointment to
her She attempted to reason Mr..
Hart out Of his fancy. Tho writer
might be old and ugly; the letter
might have been written by man
for a hoax There were many by.
pOtheses any one of which would shat.
ter the romance
This view OF the case commended
itself to Mr. Hart, and he told Miss
Fisher that he would dismiss the mat
ter from his mind. He asked her to
be his wife and felt sure that he had
given her his whole heart. She &C.
cepted him. but resolved that she
would not marry him until what she
considered hallucinatlon had been
permanently overcome.
For some time after the engagement
Hart seemed TO have but one love,
Miss Fisher Then came n relapse
which he had not the power to conceal
from his fancee. He was no less af-
fectionate In his manner, but showed
by dreamy expression Of counte-
nance that he was with his imaginary
love. Instead Of approaching him
Miss Fisher made no reference to his
condition. thinking only of effecting
cure Fancylng the matter might
be case for doctor, she consulted
her family physician.
To her relief he told her that the
trouble was not directly due to an alb
normal condition Of the brain, but the
brain was probably Influenced by
what was a normal external condition.
The Imagination IL a feeder Of love.
Indeed, incipient love is largely crea-
ture Of the Imagination. The doctor
promised TO think the matter over,
with view TO forming a plan for an
Initiating this imaginary object But
Miss Fisher did not need the doctors
inventive faculties, for, having receiv-
ed the hint, she was quite equal to the
task herself. She put her mind TO the
subject and worked out plan.
One day Andrew Hart received an.
other note from his incOgnita. She said
that she had heard he was engaged to
be married. She would not for the
world do ouvfhtuU 20 hrooIr q, Ytpn,, blo
happiness or that OF his flancee. But
she desired one interview before his
marriage. though only with the assent
OF the girl who was 10 be his wife. II
he could secure this assent and would
write her at an address she gave him
she would appoint a meeting.
On receipt of this letter Hart resolv-
ed not TO mention It TO Margaret and
to pay no attention 10 It, but he found
that the trouble had taken fresh hold
on him and he was unable to Danish Il
After struggling with himself for some
time he resolved 10 show this second
note TO Margaret.
To his surprise, she gave her consent
to the interview and advised him to
grant It. II this girl was 10 win him
away from her II was better TINT she
should do 20 before than after mar
riage. Margaret had some difficulty In
him to 20 10 see his incog-
nita. but he finally consented. He
wrote her granting the interview.
He had dreamed Of n demure girl,
very voung md ~ nm idenl cast OF