The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-03-02

an outward GOODNESS, III strong contrast
to the beatings Of tender heart within,
the performer loaded his pistol and
raised it, amid The breathless excite
ment of the expectant audience.
A pull of the trigger, sharp click,
and murmur Of disappointment told
that the weapon had missed fire. Moth
ing dauDted, and still with an apparent
perfect calmness, every movement be-
ing eagerly watched by the audience,
Bosco reloaded the pistol and again
raised it. There was IL sharp click,
followed by loud report, and in an
other second the child stepped forward,
holding the shattered apple in his hands.
The suspended breath Of the audience
returned and broke out into deafening
shout.
''BravoI bravo!" came from thou
sand throats simultaneously, and thou.
sand pairs of hands met in approval.
'Encorei Do it again!'' rose above
the din, and tho idea catching hold de-
veloped into loud roar. do it againl''
Bosco seemed pleased and panied at
once. He hesitated
do it again!' and the shout assumed
.peremptory tone. Some one threw
half crown into the ring; it was fol-
lowed by another, and soon a shower Of
silver lay at tho performers feet. How
could he resist? He motioned to the
boy, and q second apple was brought
and placed in position. Tho lads ex-
cessively pale face attracted general at
tention now, but a few sympathetic
voices raised in protest were howled
down by the impetuous demand, do it
again!'
Bosco showed some traces of excite
ment as he reloaded his weapon, and
the operation seemed to occupy long
er time. Could it be that his nerve was
failing him, or was it the sight of the
boys face that filled him with dread?
Again no raised the weapon amid in
creased excitement and fired. The shot
was again true, and for tho second time
tho lad brought forward tho shattered
apple.
Amid the applause that followed,
Bosco took the hand of his son and was
about to retire when once moro tho I'M
reasonable shout was raised: do it
again! Do it the third time.' The
performer declined.
The shouts grew louder and moro de-
terInincd.
Again! again!" resoundcd through
tho place, until it seemed that n mad
lnfatuation had seized upon the people.
and they were thirsting for tragic end.
Again. aSain.' rose the shout, each
tlmo uttered i'll more angry tone. 1t
was flung from gallery to pit; the
amphitheatcr caught it up and threw it
back again, until the whole house rang
with the tunultuous demand.
Still Bosco declined, until on per
sonal appeal from the proprietor, who
feared the growing storm, he reluctantly
yielded
When it was seen that he had given
way, wild shout of triumph rent the
AIR, almost lnhunan in its ferocity. Is
1T thus that audiences play with their
favorites?
For tho third time All apple was
placed i'll position and the glarins light
again thrown on. How terribly pale
were those features now. Bosco's hand
visibly trembed as he loaded the dead
ly weapon. The few tender hearts in
that vast multitude sickcned at the
sight
Making tremendous effort to recov-
or his self possession, Bosco raised the
weapon and took aim. There was again
a sharp click, Il loud report and tho boy
fell heavily to the ground.
My God, what have / done? What
have l donc:' exclaimed the performer
III an agony of grief and rushed from
inc ring. A few attendants lifted the
lad PROSTATE form and conveyed it TO
an inner tent, while murmur akin to
remorsc escaped the vast crowd.
a painful suspense followed during
winch the band struck up Il lively tune,
but 1t sounded like Il funeral march.
Tho hoy! the boy! what about tho
boy?' tho audience shouted. They were
human again now. At length the man
ager appeared. He told them that tho
lad had been i'll all day and had taken
part Ill the performance at great risk.
The mental strain was too much for
him. however, and as the last shot was
fired his strength gave way, and he
swconed. But he is not hurt" the
manager concluded, land as soon as the
falntlnS lit is over he shall bc presented
to you. See, here he comcs" and as
he spoke Bosco emerged from the tent.
leading by the hand his little son. dis
playing the remnants of the third annie.
Such shout arose as has never since
been heard under the canvas of Gal
laXy's monster tent. and when Bosco
raised the boy in his arms and kissed
him atfectionately on both checks the
cries OF Bravo, Bosco" could have
been heard tor miles around.
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