Oh, darling, be my Valentine!”
He paused and cocked his eyebrows at her inquiringly.
“I caught Mr. Dunham writin’ that tormented sculch out of a book at the sekert’ry in the best room one day the first of this month,” she said. “And I took it away from him. And I know that he jest went to work and made another, ’cause he said he was goin’ to. He’s been dead set and possessed by the Old Harry for months, Squire, till I’m plumb out with him. I can’t, won’t and shan’t stand it no longer. Here’s items, if you need ’em.”
She unfolded a long roll composed of many sheets of notepaper pasted together, and he read in the same calm voice her pencilled entries:
“July 15.—He helped her and her scholars to pick white weeds to trim up the schoolhouse.
“July 19.—Took our ladder and clime trees for leaves, ditto.
“July 22.—Took broken candy to door and give it to her.
“August 2.—Hitched and took her to her boarding place when it rained.
“August 5.—More broken candy.
“August 7.—Hitched before school and went after her.