A Quaker City Legend

Manv years ago, when Pliiladelphia was jret young, and before Fainnount park was brought to its present state of perfection, there was in the southern portion of Wissahickon, near the river drive, a cave, called Indian cave, long since desertad, which was supposed at one time to have been the rcndezvous of some of these warlike people. Various Btoriea bad been whispered about by the more superstitious of the people in the .vicinity to the effect that a man supposed to have been murdered there long ago had been seen by several belated travelers to rise suddenly out of the cave, mounted on a black steed, and pursue the frightened narratoi's for a considerable distanee and then vanish as suddenly as it had appeared, says the Philadelphia Times. Some distance north of this cave there lived a man narned Richard Ashly, vvhose beautiful and aeeomplished daughtcr had suitors galore from all parts of our Quaker City. Among these was a man named George Royal, who did not meet with much favor in the eyes of his adored one, but who, nevertheless, continued to pay the most assiduous attention to the j'oung lady, much to her displeasure and the utter disgust of his numerous rivals. His most bitter opponent was John Coleman, who openly expressed the utmost contempt for George, and vowed to execute a whole catalogue of tragedies if that young gentleman did not cease his nightly transits over Girard avenue bridge toward Wissahickon.' liut George paid no attention to all these threats, and every available evening found him at the Ashly homestead, where joining the fireside group he listened to the most extravagant ghost stories, among the most important that of the Indian cave a few rods below the house. But all this did not abate the ardor of the young suitor, and one particular evening he decided to pop the allimportant question and risk the chance of acceptance, as he could not possibly endure further suspense in the matter. When an opportunity came he broached the subject with as much elegance and delicacy as he could muster to the object of his adoration, but received a rather flat refusal from the lady reEerred to, which so incensed our young tiero that he abruptly left the house, and, mounting his horse, immediately started for home. His anger, however, did not prevent him from feeling somewhat scared at some unusual noises among the trees on the roadside, and nis fear increased as he approached the cave. When that point was reached he saw a dark object emerge suddenly from some bushes near by which looked like a large black horse, and on it the very identical rider that he had often heard of at the Ashl.y house. The sight made ïim f airly sick. He feit each and every lair of his head rise suddenly upward, and a very chilly sensation took possession of his whole being as the apparition came prancing toward him. [lis horse shied violently and it was with the greatest difficulty that the animal could be 'nduced to start forward. When he finally got his horse started at a terrific gallop he looked back and saw to his gTeat consternation the phantom horse and rider rapidly pursung him and almost at his heels. He whipped up his horse in a vain endeavor to outstrip the speed of his mysterious pursuer and reach Philadelpha unharmed. When he reached the brow of a hill and looked back he saw for an nstant the figures of a horse and rider clearely outlined against the sky. Horrors! he was headless and earrying lis head in his hand. The cold sweat stood out on his forehead in great drops and his poor horse was giving out. If [ could only keep ahead, he thoujfht, until I reach the bridge I should then se comparatively safe, for, as it is used to a great exteut for travel, the spirit, spook, or whatever it may be would be very apt to disappear. So on he dashed, and finally when the jridge was gained he turned to see his rrible pursuer disappear amid fire and brimstone, but instead the rider raised the frightful head which he had carried and aimcd it directly at that of our young hero. George tried to dodge the blow, but it was of no use. The horrid missile struck him and he feil from his horse, badly stunned, just as the phantom horse and its strange rider dashed past him. The nest day, as George did not put in an appearance, his Fhiladelphia friends started out to hunt him up and found his horse quietly grazing on the roadside, near the bridge, whila not far away lay an old crushed squash, all that was left to teil the tale. Later on John Coleman married Miss Ashly, and ! when people speak of the phantom that chased George lloyal out of town he laughs immoderately and his friends say, with a wink, that He could explain matters if he wanted to.