The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-02-06
and arranged himself to enjoy the Dor.

and arranged himself to enjoy the Dor.
rowed luxury to the best advantages as
the carriage whirled swiftly on.
Hello! What new clubs this?'
Horace asked himself, as he stopped
before large house on Madison ave-
nue.. Rather an out-of-t -the-way locali-
ty, it strikes me, and without more ado
he sprang out and ran lightly up the
steps. The door, heavy and carved,
was opened by a fat butler in dress
coat, who, without inquiry, ushered Hor-
ace into darkened room on one side.
Before the visitor had time to mediate
upon the eccentric arrangements of this
club house, woman came hurriedly in,
with outstretched hand.
4 am so thankful Thomas found you
in said she. my aunt is so impatient,
and you know fretting makes her worse.
1t was soft little hand and a sweet
little voice and after Mr.. Portlock had
recovered from the shock of this greet
ing he found himself ardently wishing
he was what he seemed to be. The
natural blunder he bod .-.ed0 woo ela"-
e him now. If he had only stopped
10 question that stupid Irishman! Doc
tors were being sent for, of course,
every hour in the day. He ought to
have remembered that. Come to think,
the situation was awkward-very awk-
ward. 1t would take time to explain
the full extent of his ridiculous folly.
Then the inspirations flashed upon him
why not carry out the part? Surely
he could play the part of doctor for
J this once, quiet the sick woman, and
get out of pieposterous scrape. And
what a story for the breakfast! Releas-
ing therefore, the lady's hand, which
he had held throughout these swift cog
itations, he said, in his friendliest tone:
Il am not Doctor Minor, madam, but
friend of his-ahem!- doctor Port
lock. Doctor Minor is out of town.
He placed his patients in my charge
until he returns tomorrow. Under
standing this to be an urgent case l
have taken the liberty to come in DIR.
Minors place.
At his first words the lady had drawn
back in surprise. Then she opened the
blinds of the window and examined our
young scapegrace critically. He saw
she was young, with soft, dark eyes and
a mass Of light, fluffy hair; just the sort
of an owner for that hand and that
voice. Her inspection seemed to be
satisfactory, for she said:
you are very good. If you have
Doctor Minors confidence no doubt
you will have my aunt's-Miss Culpep-
per's. 1 may tell you that her malady
is of nervous character and seems to
be obscure. She is apt to be very cross
and abrupt, and you won't be offended
at anything she says, please. And, oh |!
l must tell you that she has had three
other doctors here already this morning
and really talked very impolitely to
them. I'm almost afraid to tell you
that she has ordered all out of the house,
but they say that's symptom of her
trouble and are in the library now, in
consultation. Perhaps you would like
to meet them before going up.
Mr.. Portlock shivered at this thought
81 nggestion. 'Pernaps, he ralteled,
Il had better leave the case in their
hands. The etiquette of the profession
is very strict on such occasions. Yes,
Pm sure 1 had better say good morn
ing and Mr.. Portlock reached for his
hat with undignifed alacrity.
ooh, pray, don't go!' cried the young
lady, imploringly. I'm sure you won't
let anything of that kind stand in the
way of aunt's recovery. Oh, doctor,
don't leave me. You needn't fear the
others, I'm sure, and indeed, they're
quarreling fearfully-that is, mean my
aunt is-with all of us, and we don't
know what to do, and she held her lit
tie hand beseechingly on his arm.
Mr.. Portlock laid down his hat. No,
he would not leave her just now. This
was certainly lovely creature. AS for
the old cat, her aunt, and those squab'
bling sawbones-Pshaw 1t was mere
farce. Mr.. Portlock took the young
lady's hand with great tenderness, and
said he would look at the case at once.
The patient reclined on a lounge in
! richly furnished room on the second
floor. She half rose when her last at
tendant was ushered in and looked al
him sharply with her glittering eyes.
| She was a stout little woman, ,-and her
face was full, but leaden and blotched.
Her movements were vigorous for SICK
woman, and she had a truculent and
obstinate expression.
well, SIR she began coldly, 'and
who are you?'
'Dr. Portlock, ma am. DR.. Minor is
out of town and came in his place.
That's it, exclaimed the lady, peev
ishly, 'I'm of so little Importance thai
any druggist would volunteer to treat
me if he got chance. You have taker
a liberty, young man.
Il will take another then-the liberty
of wishing you good day. retorted the
doctor smartly, marching toward the
door.
| 'I1Gyudy! Wlldl D tlldt! SOt'S Ce'NN
sir! How dare you leave me before
tell you to go? I like your independ
ence, sir, and want you to stay. Yo'
know I'm crusty old woman who say
and does what she pleases. Now, what
the matter with me?'
DR.. Portlock drew a chair severel.
before the lounge and felt Miss Culpep
per's pulse with profoundly profes
sional air. Then he ordered her tongu
out with sudden ferocity that startle'
the poor woman. Meanwhile he wa
looking furtively about him. He no
ticed an untouched bowl of Cruel OF
the table.
'Have you good appetizer he ask
ed attentively.
sOf course l have said the old lad
angrily, 'and that's it. I'm ravenous
and those other fools say must tax
nothing heating. Heating, indeed
| tn CT.