the
expression in Dudley's letter, 'he is strongly in favor of
Spai'--meaning, of course, Spain; and also this line, 'withdrawing
altogether from the Uni', which last word, with its missing letters
supplied, would be Union. Why, man, this is a most dangerous conspiracy
against the Federal Government! We must be very wary indeed, if we
would succeed in bringing the whole matter to light. But how careless
of Dudley," he continued after a moment, "to lose that letter by the
roadside! It is unlike his usual caution, and certainly not in keeping
with the diabolical cunning and consummate skill with which the movers
in this plot appear to be working. However, as the enclosure was
already forwarded, and as the letter itself without the verbal
interpretation is so obscure as to have no real meaning for one not in
the scheme, I presume Dudley was not as cautious as he would have been
had he dreamed that any one in this neighborhood had an inkling of
these nefarious plots they are concocting."

After some further consultation and further pledges between Drane and
Gilcrest as to caution and silence, the former prepared to leave.

"No, James," said Gilcrest, when the lawyer reached out to get the two
documents, "you are impetuous and rather thoughtless; and besides, you
are frequently away from home; so I had better take these papers into
my charge for safe-keeping. You'll be showing them to some one, or,
rather, somebody may get at them while you are out of town, and----"

"But, Major Gilcrest," remonstrated Drane, secretly much frightened at
this unexpected move on the part of his confidant, "I--I found them,
and they belong to me. I assure you they will be perfectly secure with
me, and--and--I----"

"But they'll be safer with me," persisted Gilcrest.

James argued and remonstrated as much as he dared without endangering
by overeagerness his own nefarious little plot; but he could not shake
the old gentleman's purpose, and at last he had to depart, thoroughly
discomfited. Much enraged he was, too, as he rode homeward, and fully
determined, as he said, "to regain possession of those two documents,
in spite of that blamed, stubborn old blockhead, Hiram Gilcrest."

CHAPTER XIX.

THE BETROTHAL

"For I'll believe I have his heart,
As much as he has mine."

Betsy came home the last week in October. Even her mother, the least
observant of women, noticed her daughter's unusual silence and
restlessness for the