Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1908-03-19

nave kept inc prophet WdIhtu' tlsV
could he not have escaped our search
all these years And who but Obadiah
could do this thing
And IL was Obadiah who first
brought me word to-day that the
prophet Elijah was in the land and
close at hand" reluctantly admtte'
Ahab, as nc recalled how Obadiah had
sent him TO meet the prophet that
day.
no, no! AS might have been eX.
pocted and yet thou needest to be told
what ought to be plain enough to thee.
And now thou art foolish enough to
believe that the prophet will keep his
word. He hath but slipped through
| thy fingers again, and while the proph-
cts of Baal are gathering on Mount
Carmel Elijah will be far, far away"
Ahab was silent The influence Of
his wife was so strong upon him that
when i'm her presence she dominated
his every thought and action, and nov
! that which before he had not called
into question seemed uncertain and
| doubtful He wondered now how he
! could have been so weak as to let
the prophet Elijah escape him He
recalled how when first Obadiah had
brought him word anger and revenge
filled his heart against the prophet,
and he fully intended to call him to
a severe accounting, but as he had
come into that commanding presence
his courage had failed him and with a
desperate effort at the display of
kingly dignity and authority he had
demanded:
art thou he that troubleth Israeli
And then the piercing eyes of the
prophet had been fixed upon him,
seemingly looking right through him,
and making him quail and tremble as
his words of accusation and con
demnation were Numbered forth
With bowed head he had listened
and when the prophet had commanded
him to summon all the prophets of
Baal to Mount Carmel he had prom.
ised like a child to obey.
But now under the spell of his wife's
suspicious and wrath a revulsion of
feeling had taken place and he began
to doubt himself and everything and
everybody Such Is the evil influence
of a wicked life which comes to com.
petely dominate another.
Shall we not summon the prophets
to Mount Carmel?" at last he ven
tured to ask, half doubtfully.
A wicked CLEAN came into the eyes
Of Jezebel as sudden thought came
, to her and she said
! I'VE will let Obadiah decide. If he
thinkest his friend Elijah will keep
tryst with the prophets OF Baal, let
them be summoned. But and she
fairly Kissed the words as she leaned
toward Ahab, IF Elijah come not
and he won't-verily the life of Oba-
diah shall be forfeited He shall
: atone with his blood for the affront Of
, fered Baal."
without n word Ahab turned and
left the apartment. He knew it would
be useless to protest, even though he
chose to do 50. The decision of sum
moning the prophets must rest with
Obadiah.
I Remember" he exclaimed later,
{ when Obadiah had come to him in re-
Spouse to his summons, remember, it
means thy life If the prophet Elijah
appeareth not"
Yes, | know was the quiet re-
spouse. He will come Let the
prophets be summoned"
On the day appointed, with much
pomp and ceremony the great COM
pany of Baal set forth for Mount Car.
mel, their gorgeous apparel and ban
{ ners and images borne before them
: making an imposing display and call
4 ing forth the shouts of admiration
: and approval of the great crowds OF
people as they followed.
"Baal shall have n fitting sacrifice
4 to-day" whispered Jezebel to hel
chief prophet just before he took his
place in the procession. And then as
her eyes sought out Obadiah where ht
i stood surrounded by the guard she
= had caused to be appointed she add
- ed: Let him not escape"
y The hours passed wearisomely t
y the queen. Her usual pleasures am
u diversions failed to hold her atten
~ ton. Confident as she was of tn
," outcome of the gathering on Noun
W Carmel, her spirit was strangely i'll a
10 ease. That night troubled dream
came to break her rest and the mex
- day found her in a state Of nervous e>
" element and irritation from whic
u late in the afternoon she sought re
}" lief by resting upon her couch. M
a breath of air was stirring and tn
''e sun seemed more fierce in his hea
~ than ever, and as she lay down sh
y said to herself:
Surely the gods will be appease
% this day and will send rain"
'o How long she slept she knew no
but she was suddenly aroused by
ne loud crash in the room and sprang Il
Oh to find the wind blowing in a perfec
al hurricane and the heavens so blac
ao with clouds that she could scarceI
&C. see in the gloom the broken fra
mpntS Of thp hip urn which had Stng