" A LITTLE MILD FLIRTATION. IQQ 



which may present itself to give a ' friendly lead,' active 

 assistance cheerfully rendered in regaining possession of a 

 riderless steed, help to remount, a shoe cast, a horse lamed ; 

 these, and many other incidents, may befall the fair 

 equestrienne, and the good sportsman, like the true knight 

 of old, will always be ready to rescue a damsel in distress. 

 Gracious thanks for his attention, although he may not 

 look for them, the sportsman is sure to receive, and upon a 

 subsequent meeting possibly a bow of recognition, and if he 

 has been careful to make the most of his opportunity, he 

 may even be rewarded with a smile ! 



The * fates,' still working in the young couple's favour, 

 may ordain that they take the same road to the '* Meet," 

 get simultaneously ' thrown out,' or when the shades of 

 evening are falling, wend their way homewards together. 



So many romantic elopements took place fifty years 

 ago, which originated in the hunting field, that they gave 

 rise to the toast " Here's to the bridle that leads to the 

 bridal," or " Here's to the halter that leads to the altar," 

 and the following authentic and amusing account of one 

 which had its first beginning in the hunting field may 

 interest the reader. Both the hero and heroine belong to 

 the past, but the facts are well within the recollection of 

 the lady who communicated them to the writer, she herself 

 having been a personal friend of the bride, who in her old age 

 took great pleasure in relating every detail to the youngsters ; 

 hence I need have no scruple in repeating them. * He ' 

 was a strikingly handsome young English subaltern, whose 

 regiment was then quartered in the north, his only fortune 

 being his sword. ' She ' was the beautiful daughter of a 

 * proud and mighty ' Scottish noble. They were both 

 passionately fond of hunting, and met at the covert-side. It 

 was one of those happy instances when instinct, triumphing 

 over the cold calculations of reason, proclaimed itself in no 

 unmistakeable manner ; in short, it was a case of love at first 

 sight. His Christian name was Robert, but to his 

 intimates he was always known as 'Bob.' Which of the 

 many opportunities the enterprising Bob took to declare 



