Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-08-23

holding the shattered apple in his hands.
The suspended breath of the audience
returned and broke out into deafening
shout.
"Brayol bravo!" came from a 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 itagainp and the shout assumed
a peremptory tone. Some one threw a
half crown into the ring; it was fol-
lowed by another, and soon a shower Of
silver lay at the performers feet. How
could he resistf He motioned to the
boy, and a 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
againl'
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 filed him with dread?
Again he raised the weapon amid in
creased excitement and fred. 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 un-
reasonable shout was raised: "Do it
againl Do it the third time" The
performer declined.
The shouts grew louder and more de-
termined.
"Againi again!" resounded through
the place, until it seemed that a mad
infatuation had seized upon the people,
and they were thirsting for tragic end.
Again! sgain!" rose the shout, each
time uttered in more angry tone. II
was flung from gallery to pit; the
amphitheater caught it up and threw II
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, he reluctantly
yielded.
When it was seen that he had give1
way, a wild shout of triumph rent the
air, almost inhunan in its ferocity. Il
it thus that audiences play with theil
, fayoritesP
For the third time an apple wat
placed in position and the glaring ligh
again thrown on. How terribly pal'
were those features now! Bosco's hant
visibly trembled as he loaded the dead
ly weapon. The few tender hearts il
that vast multitude sickened at tn
sight.
Making tremendous effort to recov
er his self possession, Bosco raised tn
weapon and took aim. There was agai
sharp click, loud report and the bo
fell heavily to the ground.
my God. what have I done? Wha
have done?" exclaimed the performe
in an agony of grief and rushed fror
the ring. A few attendants lifted tn
lads PROSTATE form and conveyed it t
an inner tent, while murmur akin
remorse escaped the vast crowd.
A painful suspense followed, durin
which the band struck up lively tunt
but it sounded like funeral march.
"The boy! the boy! what about I'll
boyT" the audience shouted. They wei
human again now. At length the mai
ager appeared. He told them that tn
lad had been i'll all day and had take
part in the performance at great risl
The mental strain was too much fl
him, however, and as the last shot W,
. fired his strength gave way, and l
swooned. "But he is not hurt" IL
: manager concluded, land as soon as Il
, fainting fit is over he shall be presente
. to you. See, here he comes!" and ,
| he spoke Bosco emerged from the ten
leading by the hand his little son, di
, playing the remnants of the third appl
I Such shout arose as has never sim
been heard under the canvas of Ga
laxy's monster tent, and when Bos,
g raised the boy in his arms and kiss
him affectionately on both cheeks II
4 cries of bravo, Bosco!" could ha
been heard for miles around.
u
Alfredo Bosco has never told he
4 that very fainting fit of Alfonso's saw
r the lads life, for he, and he only, kne
e that his aim was defective, and tn
!. the shot struck the apple just as t
. swooning boy was falling to the groun
l. William Tells historic and never to
forgotten feat no longer forms an ite
in Signor Alfredo Bosco's extensive re
ertory. y.-London Tit-Bits.
4 Some one is said to have invented