Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-05-11

the operation seemed to occupy long
er time. Could it be that his nerve was
failing him, or was it the sight of the
boy face that filled him with dread?
Again he raised the weapon amid in
creased excitement and fired. The shot
was again true, and for the second time
the lad brought forward the shattered
apple.
Amid the applause that followed,
Bosco took the hand of his son and was
about to retire when once more the I'M
reasonable shout was raised: 'Do it
again! Do it the third time!" The
performer declined.
The shouts grew louder and more de-
ternined.
"Againl again!" resounded through
the place, until it seemed that mad
infatuation had seized upon the people,
and they were thirsting for tragic end.
"Again! again!" rose the shout, each
time uttered in a more angry tone. 1t
was flung from gallery to pit; the
amphitheater caught it up and threw it
back again, until the whole house rang
with the tumultuous demand.
Still Bosco declined, until on a 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 inhulnan in its ferocity. Is
it thus that audiences play with their
favorites?
For the third time an apple was
placed in position and the glazing light
again thrown on. How terribly pale
were those features now! Bosco's hand
visibly trembled as he loaded the dead
ly weapon. The few tender hearts in
that vast multitude sickened at the
sight.
Making a tremendous effort to recov-
er his self possession, Bosco raised the
weapon and took aim. There was again
a sharp click, loud report and the boy
fell heavily to the ground.
my God, what have done? What
have done?" exclaimed the performer
in an agony of grief and rushed from
the ring. A few attendants lifted the
lads PROSTATE form and conveyed it to
an inner tent, while murmur akin to
remorse escaped the vast crowd.
painful suspense followed, during
which the band struck up lively tune,
but it sounded like funeral march.
"The boy! the boy! what about the
boy?' the audience shouted. They were
human again now. At length the man
ager appeared. He told them that the
lad had been i'll all day and had taken
part in 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
swooned. "But he is not hurt" the
manager concluded, land as soon as the
fainting fit is over he shall be presented
to you. See, here he comes!" and as
he spoke Bosco emerged from the tent,
leading by the hand his little son. dis
playing the remnants of the third apple.
Such a 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 affectionately on both cheeks the
cries of ''Bravo, BoscoH" could have
been heard for miles around.
x
Alfredo Bosco has never told how
that very fainting fit of Alfonso saved
the lads life, for he, and he only, knew
that his aim was defective, and that
the shot struck the apple just as the
swooning boy was falling to the ground.
William Tells historic and never to be
forgotten feat no longer forms an item
in Signor Alfredo Bosco's extensive rep
ertory.-London Tit-Bits,