The L'Anse sentinel., 1907-04-13


startled look Of surprise and fear
which passed across the features Of
Abimslech. they would have seen
him start back and catch his breath
and mutter:
"Jothaml By the gods thought
my men had slain him! Or is It his
spirit?"
But this dismay gave place to won.
der as he listened to the remarkable
parable which Jotham spoke.
Let fire come out from Abime
lech." he cried in closing. "and devoui
the men of Shechem. and the house
of Milo: and let fire come out from
the men Of Shechem and from the
house of Milo. and devour Abime
lech."
Quickly Abimelech recovered him
self and his lips curled In scorn, and
his eye flashed fire as he shouted to
his men to hasten forward and seize
the man. But 1t was no easy or quick
task to gain the heights where the
man stood and ere they had reached
the place lothian had made good his
escape.
One, two, three years sped by. Abb
melech ruled over Shechem and the
surrounding country, and prosperity
seemed to attend him. II the words
which lothian had spoken ever oc
CURED to him they did not trouble
him. Word had come to him soon
after he had been made king that
lothian, his half brother, was at Beer,
and the murderous passion had seized
him to kill him as he had killed the
other 70 Of his fathers sons, but just
as he had completed all his plans to
this end, Jotham's words Of warning
had come to him, and laughing in his
mad derision, he had exclaimed:
NAY, let the cowardly dog live that
he may know that his words will not
come true"
Thus the three years had passed,
and Abimelech's power seemed
stronger than ever. He felt secure
in his position and tho patronizing,
fiattering methods by which he had
ingratiated himself into the conf
dence of the people of Shechem, had
given place to domineering, and
cruel spirit more natural for him, and
where formerly he had been disposed
to defer to the wishes Of those over
whom he exercised lordship, he now
was governed only by the caprice and
desire of his own cruel nature. Woe
to anyone who should cross his nur.
pose or fail to carry out the dictates
OF his will. Many an one had felt the
strength of his power, and what he
did not dare do in the open he found
mean spirits like his own which were
ready to strike the blow in the dark,
so that more than one of his enemies
suddenly disappeared to be heard of
no more.
Such was his despotic rule and IL
may well be understood that 1t gave
rise to under currents of opposition
which were only awaiting favorable
opportunity to burst forth and engulf
him. And 80 1t came to pass when
Abimelech found occasion to go from
Shechem for season, the bitter
hatred against him crystallized into
action and it was not long ere the
entire city was swept into open and
declared rebellion against him under
the leadership OF one Gaal. the son of
Ebed, boastful fellow whose tongue
was stronger than his courage.
When word of this thing reached
Abimelech he was wroth and came up
against Gaal and his men and when
he had driven them before him, he
laid wait before the city and took
1t by strategy, and laid it waste, and
destroyed the inhabitants thereof
even to the strong tower of Shechem
whittier the men and women of the
city had sought refuge.
''Yea," he exclaimed, with grim
humor, "the fire of Abimelech hath
gone forth and destroyed the city.
Now we shall see. whether the fire
from Shechem will come forth to de-
stroy Abimelech."
But IL Abimelech had had his re-
venge, his own stronghold and power
were broken, for no city was left him
which he could call his own and he
had only the fighting men in his army
to depend upon.
In consequence Of this thing, the
fever OF conquest seized him and he
and his army went forth and en-
camped against Thebez and finally
took 1t. But there was a strong tower
within the city, and thither fed all
the men and women of the city and
shut and barred the door.
Now there was a certain woman
among the number who had escaped
from Shechem before its destruction
And she cried in the ears of the men
of Thebez, saying:
know you not what Abimelech did
to the tower of Shechem? Get thee
up to the top of the tower lest he do
likewise to the tower of Thebez."
At the word Of her command the
men fastened to the top Of the tower.
taking with them piece of milestone
which was lying there. 'rhither she
followed them and none too soon for
even then Abimelech was pressing
hard against the door and had started
his fire there as at the tower of She
chem. Then the woman with keen