trained.

One afternoon Gilcrest, who was so full of the subject of the parson's
iniquities that he could think or speak of little else, encountered
Dudley, to whom in no measured terms he denounced Stone. Abner would
gladly have avoided argument with Gilcrest upon any subject, and
especially upon this, which he felt did not concern himself personally;
but Gilcrest was not to be evaded.

"You know, Major Gilcrest," said Dudley at last, "that I'm not a
church-member, and therefore it is not fitting for me to discuss the
question."

"No matter," answered Gilcrest; "you're a man and capable of reasoning,
and can surely see the fallacy of this fellow's doctrine."

"But Stone is a personal friend of mine," Abner urged.

"What of that?" asked Hiram. "It's not the man, but his doctrine, that
I abhor."

Thus driven to bay, Abner had no alternative but to reply that from
what he could learn by his own study of the Bible, Stone seemed to be
right. This was literally throwing down the gauntlet to Gilcrest, and
the discussion waxed hot and stormy.

"This is a fine way to win the daughter--to be locking horns with the
father in theological combat," Dudley soliloquized ruefully as Gilcrest
rode off; but he laughed, too, as he thought how little like one "saved
by grace" and "sanctified by the Spirit" the old man had appeared as,
with frowning brow, loud voice and vehement gesticulation, he had
stormed and raved against the offending Stone. "What a fool the old
fellow did make of himself," thought Abner; "but not a bigger one than
myself, considering all things. 'Never discuss theology with your
intended father-in-law,' is a safe maxim for lovers to follow."

Later in the summer, Abner Dudley received from his uncle, Dr. Richard
Dudley, of Williamsburg, intelligence of a surprising nature; namely,
that an uncle of Abner's mother, Andrew Hite, of Sterling County,
Virginia, had died, leaving a will by which Abner was heir to all his
worldly possessions.

Richard Dudley urged upon Abner the necessity of coming at once to
Virginia in regard to this inheritance. Accordingly, Abner, merely
telling the Rogers family that he was summoned to Virginia on important
business, set out one August afternoon. He went first to Lexington, and
from there on horseback to Limestone. His companions on this horseback
ride of sixty-five miles were Judge Benjamin Sebastian and Judge
William Murray, against whom Hiram Gilcrest had seen fit to warn