The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-03-13


lite shut up the heavens That they give \
no rain?n he angrily exclaimed
"And is my lord the king content \
to suffer such a low-born fellow to
trouble him2" spoke a voice behind /
him There was a cruel, harsh con
temptuous ring to the words as they
fell with accentuated intensity, and
Ahab turned suddenly to look into
the beautiful face Of his wife Jezebel-
Let Baal our god drink the blood
Of this pestilentlal fellow" she con-
tinued, with an air Of decision, and
then as though the only question
which remained to be settled was the
manner of carrying out her decree Of
death, she added
Let the servants Of the king be dis
patched at once to seize the prophet
and I will see that the prophets Of
Baal are prepared to receive him. It
will be a great day for Israel and
Israel shall know that Baal is god,
indeed, and that he knoweth how to
destroy those who are his enemies" "
BIT suppose the God Of Elijah had
shut up the heavens and was mightier
than the god Baal?' questioned Ahab,
rising fear taking possession of his
heart
"Woulst thou leave the worship Of
Baal to serve the God Of this wander
ing Tishbite?s contemptuously de-
manded Jezabel. Are not the gods
angry with us because such a pesti-
lential fellow is suffered to trouble the
land, and viii not rain come when the
affront to Baal is wiped out with his
blood?"
Perhaps" admitted Ahab.
NAY, not perhaps, but for a truth.
Wilt thou not send and search for
this fellow?" Jezebel pleaded in soft
er, Quieter mood, and by way Of re-
enforcing her appeal she threw her
beautiful arms about his neck and
looking into his eyes, she whispered,
softly: Where is there more glori-
GUS king than thou? Be king indeed
in thine own land. He who dares to
speak curses upon the land let him
feel the kings displeasure."
Thou hast spoken well, verify be
lieve," exclaimed Ahab, yielding him
self to the charm of those eyes ant
that face, for long since had this beau
tiful but wicked woman gained com
pleie ascendancy over him and she
knew how by her wiles to completely
dominate both the political and th'
religious atmosphere of Israel. It wal
her influence which had established
the worship of Baal so completed!
upon Israel, and it was she who wa
. now ready to boldly and fearlessl.
take issue with the prophet Of th'
! Lord and bring him to an accounting
And so 1t came to pass that day err
/ the sun had set that messengers Of tn
king were speeding here and there Il
search OF the prophet Elijah. The
! had traced his movements from tn
I time Of his meeting with Ahab throug
/ the various places he had visited sine
I then and came at last to the dwell
! ing in a little village where it wa
said that the prophet had taken lodi
I ment.
/ To the insistent, imperious knoc
! Of the soldiers the door was at las
/ opened, and, IN spite of the protests {
]. the woman who came to the door the
{ pushed their way in and demanded I
!; know where the prophet Elijah wa
Powerless to resist, the woman led tn
: way to the little room where tn
1 prophet had found shelter and pushe
open the door Eagerly the soldier
{ crowded in. but the room was empt
! and search the house from end to en-
! as they might no signs Of the prophl
J could be found.
7 when did he leave?" demanded Il
! soldiers. "And whittier went her"
g 4 know not" faltered the woma
: light breaking in upon her puzzle
& heart, save that last night l heai
7 him speaking as though in prayer al
z then heard him moving softly abo
I his room. After that fell asle'
Z and heard nothing more, and still su
I posed he was resting and meditatil
9 within. as was his won't"
I Bafied and disappointed, the m,
: sengers of tie king reported to hi
! and at once Ahab sent messenge
+ into all the nations about demandi
/ whether the prophet Elijah had COZ
: thither, and asking that diligent scar
: be made for him. Thus was the que
= kept up, man measuring his skill wi
that Of the Almighty God and alwa
being disappointed and bafled, for W
M is there who can search out the
"a ing places of God? And who is the
70 mighty enough to harm when g
so holds within the hollow Of his han
,Iv But to the land OF the zidonIans
IN messengers came not. for Jezebel
,ir claimed with lofty scorn:
There be none in my fathers Ia
a. who would give shelter to Elijah, for
- there are worshipers Of Baal, even
10 are the people Of Israel since we
~ stroyed the remaining prophets Of
10 Lord"
49, But Jezebel knew not that within
- stones throw of the palace walls
10 10 the caves in the hills 100 prophets
us A.. s..... rs,a ,.,1,.<. .I,at4n.ra - a