't a mite. Betsey
shall have the satisfaction of knowing that at no time to come they can
be claimed--the value of them, I mean. Betsey knew about them, I guess,
though her father didn't mean she should. She is a good woman, Betsey,
if ever there was one, and she has had her share of trouble."

"Father, I will burn them now; that will be best," said Elizabeth,
eagerly.

"And not say anything to Betsey? But she knows there is something due,
and it might worry her, thinking that some time or other it might be
claimed. If you burn them I think you should let her see you do it."

"Yes, father; Betsey is here, and we shall burn them together."

"Well, that is pretty much all, I guess; and I'm tired now. Look out
the rest of them when you have time, and you'll know what to burn.
There is nothing there that Jacob or Clifton has anything to do with. I
often have been sorry that I didn't just take old Mr Fleming's note,
instead of the mortgage. It might have saved some hard feelings.
There, that's all. I feel better, I'll try and sleep again."

They sat beside him till he fell asleep, and then they moved into the
other room, Elizabeth carrying the bag with her.

"Cousin Lizzie," said Betsey, "wait a minute. I don't more than half
believe it's lawful to burn these notes and things."

"It is quite lawful. My father told me to burn them."

"But wait. Do you know that folks are beginning to say that your
brother Jacob is hard up, that he is pressed for money?"

"Yes, he told me so himself. He said the difficulty was only temporary,
and that--that I should hear more about it soon."

"They say it's pretty bad, and you know everything has been mixed up in
the business, and your share might have to go with the rest. There is a
good deal represented by the papers you have in your hands, cousin."

"I see what you mean. All the more this must be made safe."

She rose, and going toward the hearth, dropped the papers one by one
into the fire.

"Now, Cousin Betsey, that is done with. Forget all about it. We will
never speak of this again."

Elizabeth took the old bag to carry it away. Several papers fell from
the other side as she moved it. She looked at each one as she put it in
the bag again, reading aloud what was written on each. One was a sealed
letter, thick and folded as letters used to be before envelopes were in
use. It was addressed to her father in very beautiful handwriting which
she had seen s