The Press., 1894-04-19
CHAPTER III.


 When l counted the cards of my vis- itors, found that they numbered GOT, and in the fullness of my heart I cried !;
 "Heavens!''
 Six months still remained before April 10, and calculated that by visit ing four every day, excepting Sundays, I should finish the lot in time, But then the real I. B. might not be among them. At any rate I determined to try, and accordingly arranged to begin my pilgrimage on the following day.
 Before going to bed decided to se- lect the four was to visit first. There were Irenes, Iolanthes, los, Isodoras, Imogenes, Inezes, Isabellas, Idas by the score. It was a difficult matter to se- lect four from among them. At first 1 thought would do the thing by dis tricts, but finally 1 tossed the entire lot into my hat and drew the following four names:
 Inez Butler.
 Isodora Eyrne,
 To Bertram.
 Irene Boswell.
 I was pleased. l rather liked the names and drew lots again to decide which l should visit first. It was Inez. l was pleased again. It was my favorite name, and Miss Butler lived in an aris- tocratic quarter of the city. She was a Beacon Hill young lady. decided that she must be beautiful and accomplished; in fact, before went to sleep almost fell in love with her in advance. And my dreams? I don't believe in psychol- ogy or psychic frances, but my dreams that night ikened more to the actual than any 1 had ever experienced. Yes, l was at Miss Butler home. She was my ideal of female loveliness, and she loved me. l was in kind of paradise; {; we were to be married; l was assured that she was the real l. B.; everything was comme il faut, and l was just about to strain her in my arms when the sh1in voice of the chambermaid cried:
 Seven o'clock, sir.
 Twas all dream. And l woke up with sigh, and l swore inwardly that that particular chambermaid should never get a tip if 1 knew it. l wanted to feel just how it felt to have Inez in my arms for moment, and that confounded maid interrupted us.
 Honestly, l believe l was losing my senses over this mysterious l. B., and ] was goaded to desperation when gig gling waiter brought me morning pa- per containing a satirical account of "Mr. Patton s Beauty Show. IcouIdn t stand it. Everybody was looking at me. l ate my breakfast, asked for my bill and at once took my baggage to private hotel. where engaged rooms.
 At 3 o'clock 1 hired hanson and drove to her number on - street. Mo- Miss Inez Butler was not in, but Mrs. Butler was at home. Would 1 please to come in? went in. wished to heaven I hadn't. An athletic looking lady in- tTOduced herself as Mrs. Butler, and be- fore could utter word she said:
 How dare you, you contemptibie scoundrel!''
 My articulation was knocked eff it's feet. Her eyes flashed like angry light ming. l almost wished had on rub Der coat or some other style of noncon- .ductor. But presently wished I had on something thicker, for before had time to devise some mode of entrance into the conversation a cowhide whip was encirciing my legs-worse than 1 o. 900 flashes from her lightning eyes.
 turned to run and ktumbled head long into the arms of-ef Inez. Yes, it was the Inez of my dream, and that part of 1t which the chambernaid had interrupted was now being performed in most undignified fashion.
 Mother, what on earth is the mat terl' was the first utterance of this love- ly girl after had extricatedmyself from her friendly but unintentionaI embrace.
 The old lady became calmer and ex- plained how she had gone to the Palmer House on the previous day :'in answer to the advertisement of this scoundrel, 2 and how her dignity was trampled 1n-