--- a/hgsubversion/util.py
+++ b/hgsubversion/util.py
@@ -121,21 +121,6 @@ def normalize_url(url):
         url = '%s#%s' % (url, checkout)
     return url
 
-
-def load_string(file_path, default=None, limit=1024):
-    if not os.path.exists(file_path):
-        return default
-    try:
-        f = open(file_path, 'r')
-        ret = f.read(limit)
-        f.close()
-    except:
-        return default
-    if ret == '':
-        return default
-    return ret
-
-
 def save_string(file_path, string):
     if string is None:
         string = ""