Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1894-04-05

ment of the expectant audience.
A pull Of the trigger, sharp click,
and murmdr of isaprointment told
that the weapon had missed fire. Moth
ing danr ted, aud still with an apparent
perfect calmneas, every movement be-
ing eagerly watched hy the audience,
Bosco reloaded the pistol and again
raised it. There was sharp click,
followed by loud report, ana in an
other second the child stepped forward,
holding the shattered apple in his hands
The suspended breath Of the audience
returned and broke ont into deafening
shout.
Bravo! bravo" came from thou
sand throats simultaneously, and thou
sand pairs of hands met in approval.
Encore! Do it againl' rose above
the din, and the idea catching hold de-
veloped into loud roar, Do it again!'
Bosco seemed pleased and panied at
once. He hesitated.
"Do it agein"' and the shout assumed
peremptory tone Some one threw a
half crown into the ring; it was fol-
lowed by another, and soon shower of
silver lay at the performers s feet. How
could he resist? He motioned to the
boy, and second apple was brought
and placed in position. The 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
boy Is face that filled him with dread?
Again he raised the weapon amid in
creased excitement 4 cd. The shot
was again true, and /, le 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 un-
reasonable shout was raised: DO it
again! Do it the third timen' The
performer declined.
The shouts grew louder and more de-
termined.
Again! againr" 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 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 per
sonal appeal from the proprietor, who
feared the growing storm, hereluctantly
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 glaring 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 che
sight.
Making a tremendous effort to recov-
er his self possession, Bosco raised the
weapon and took aim. There was again
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 a murmur akin to
remorse escaped the vast crowd.
A painful suspense followed, during
which the band struck up lively tune,
but it sounded like funeral march
1.-THE boyl 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
fred his strength gave way, and he
swooned. "But he is not hurt, /" the
manager concluded, and 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, Bosco!" could have
been heard for miles around.
Alfredo Bosco has never told how
that very fainting fit of Alfonso's saved
the lad 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