isa-normaladvance-1909-00073

Description:	THE NORMAL ADVANCE73lish as he gives utterance to the phrase thatawkward, participial construction so I begof you to begin at once to confine yourself toa more moderate use of the offensive part ofspeech. You might restrict yourself to the useof five or six a day for a short time, and thengradually decrease the number until the habitentirely disappears. You will be able to accomplish a great deal along this line in thesix weeks which are to elapse before you enterthe Normal, and I assure you that this will be avaluable beginning in your work in English.The RivalsMARGARET LAHEYTom sat dangling his legs from one of thecracker-boxes in his fathers store. In onechubby hand he held a cookie, and on the otherhe rested his chin. For the most part he kepthis eyes on the floor, but now and then he stolea questioning glance at little Elizabeth Moore,who sitting opposite him, was busily devouringa scotch-cake. She had finished now and satlooking toward Tom.Why dont you talk to me, she demanded,sharply.I was just goin to ask you, he began,slowly, if you aint a goin to marry me whenyou git big?Elizabeth tossed her head scornfully.Im going to marry the Prince of Englandwhen I grow up, and then some day Ill beQueen and wear plush trains and jewels, anyoull all get down on your knees an say, YourMajesty, and when I get mad Ill say, Put herin the tower, or Off with his head!Here, the would-be Queen slipped downfrom the cracker-box, and seizing her sateenpinafore in her hand, stalked with a majesticair, past the candy counter. Tom waited untilshe came back.Aw, you aint a goin to marry the Prince,he said, your ma wont let you. and he smiledconfidently.Hm! You dont know, she retorted, andbesides I wont marry you anyhow. Ill marryCharlie Johnson, for hes better looking thanyou, and hes going to be President of theUnited States some day. He said so!Toms eyes blazed. An angry red roseslowly to his temples.No you aint agoin to marry him, either,he said hoarsly, not while Im around, andhe glared at her with a look that would havewithered Hercules.When he recovered from his anger the dark-haired maid in the sateen pinafore was gone,and he was alone in the store. His firstthoughts were to satisfy his jealousy. Whatwould he do? He would wait. He did nothave to wait long, however. A few days laterthe hated Charlie Johnson was sent to the storefor some desired article. Tom spied him fromafar and at once began to prepare his air-gunfor the onslaught. His mother who had oftenthreatened to break the gun to pieces, took itaway from him and sent him out to play.Nothing daunted, the revengeful young loverwalked up the block and waited for Charlieto appear. Soon, the unsuspecting one cameout, bearing his purchase under his arm. Tombegan to roll up his sleeves. As soon as Charliecame within speaking distance, Tom blazed:Elizabeth Moore is my girl and I want you toknow it.She aint neither, shouted back Charles,and Ill fight you, too.He threw down his package, pulled off hiscoat, and the two began pounding each othervigorously.Suddenly there was a pause. Tom st<->odrooted to the spot. Charlie noted the action,turned, looked and was affected in like manner.Up the street came two familiar figures. Onewas a small fairy figure, clad in white, theother was the sturdy person of Billie West.There was a triumphant flash in Elizabethschildish blue eyes and as she passed the twopetrified figures, she said, Good-bye boys, weare going to the matinee.
Source:	http://indstate.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/isuarchive/id/34103
Collection:	Indiana State University Archives

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