The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-02-06
Doctor POrtIOck. .


One pleasant morning, in the spring
of ten years ago, and when trouser:
were worn wide at the bottom, Mr.
Horace Portlock left his lodgings or
Washington square to call on his friend
Mr.. Minor, of Gramercy Park. Mr..
Portlock strolled slowly up Fifth avenue
and looked enviously after the young
club bucks leaving their chambers at
the Beverick to go to breakfast at the
Union or Delmonico's. He had broken
his nights fast on the roll and coffee
furnished as an extra by his landlady
for Mr.. Portlock was neither the son Of
a rich man nor the heir of an opulent
deceased aunt. That he felt that either
character would become him uncom-
monty we'll, aggravated Mr.. Portlock'
discomfort with his own lot of a young
man with his fortune to make and no
visible way of making it. 1t was small
consolation to reflect that his starved
purse was the inevitable result of own
ing grandfather who had lived like a
gentleman, for Mr.. Portlock was a
handsome, spirited youth, with costly
tastes and an aversion to small econo-
mics and continuous labor, and his old
ramshackle house at Newport, full of
numbering mahogany and cracked fam
lily portraits, could neither be cut up
into the garments of fashion nor sliced
into cold fowl and champagne. Strong
reasons for gloom were not wanting
this very morning, in truth, scoundrel
of a tailor having been disgustingly
pressing and the landlady having sent
up her bill for the fourth time. For
something like six months Mr.. Portlock
had been in the city, looking about
vaguely for means to better his condition
and enjoying meanwhile such It'd bits
of dinners and dances as his fashionable
friends threw out to him.
There had been plenty of these, fo1
Mr.. Portlock had large acquaintance
in good society. In the first place his
was the best set at Yale and he met
many unexceptionable people abroad
where he stayed as long as his money
lasted. But an open door is helpful
only where one has the power to pass
through. Even with the best introduc.
ed of men tradesmen may lose patience,
and what do 1 profit by Jones invita-
ton come down for a weeks shooting
if I can't scrape up money enough tc
pay railroad fare2 Mr.. Portlock wa:
wondering ruefully as he walked where
he could find credit now and was tempt
ed for moment to desperate and tragic
resolutions. But the morning was SC
crisp and genial, the nurse maids SC
fresh and pretty in their white caps, the
curled darlings of wealth so winsome a:
they disported around him, and, more
over, his new gloves such perfection o.
fit, that Mr.. Portlock, who was natural
ly of cheerful and susceptible disposi
ton, plucked up courage and went or
his way in very good spirits.
He was going over 10 help his friend
the doctor, man of about his own age
with brilliant prospects, (his father wa
just retiring from high, select prac
tice,) on some anatomical drawings, fo
which Horace had knack. 1t was th'
nature of this young fellow to be spend
ing time doing somebody else favo
that were much better devoted to hi
own concerns.
As Mr.. Portlock was just turning tht
corner of Eighteenth street, however
he was conscious of loud hail.
splendid and imposing youth, whom
Horace recognized as his friend lib
bits, old Shadrack Tibbitts' son, hat
drawn his cleaning dog cart sharpl
up beside the curb, and was engagin
Mr.. Portlock's attention by vigorou
fourishes of his whip. So Horace wen
over and shook hands and Mr.. Tibbitt
begged the favor of his company a
breakfast. Yes, Horace would com
to his club, at noon, if the doctor le
him off in time.
ooh, hang it, roars young Crosu:
politely, shake him at the quarter an
I say, old fel, I'll send my fellow owe
then with the cab to fetch you, an
save time,' and touching his mares cal
lightly with his lash Mr.. Tibbitts bow
ed off to the admiration of the whol
neighborhood.
| DR.. Minor was out, but note aske
Mr.. Portlock to wait, as the doctor ha
only to dispatch sudden call. Yer
contentedly Horace settled himself to
book. 1t was an absorbing volume an
the reader didn't know how long til
doctor stayed away. He was rouse
by the sound of wheels outside, an
found it already time to 60 to Mr.. Til
bitts's breakfast. That must be Til
bitts's cab now, SO scribbling line
the doctor telling him his destination
Mr.. Portlock took up his hat, glow
and cane and fastened to the doc
The coachman on the box of a ricl
looking coupe touched his hat.
sOi've been sint for yez, sir, in
hurry said he. will yez come roig
along docther2'
Eyes, it's all right, said Horace fro
inside the cab, whittier he had alreae
sprung, and not hearing the mans Ia
, words. 'Confounded neat rig, thi:
, he thought with touch of envy. 'Wt
we can't all have stock operators f