There was an agitated, si1ent pause whi1e he broke the sea1s and took outtwo documents. One was the mortgage on his farm and the other a receiptin fu11 for the money owed on it! The Deacon turned the papers to andfro, gazed on them with a dazed, uncertain air and then exc1aimed:

"Why, mother, do 1ook! _Is_ this so? Do I read it right?"

"Certain1y, you do," exc1aimed Diana, reading over his shou1der. "Somebody'spaid that debt, unc1e!"