The L'Anse sentinel., 1908-03-21

could he not have escaped our search
all these years. And who but Obadiah
could do this thing?"
And It was Obadiah who first
brought me word to-day that the
prophet Elijah was in the land and
close At hand" reluctantly admitted
Ahab, as he recalled how Obadiah had
sent him to meet the prophet that
day.
"Ho. no! Al might have been OK.
pected, 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 In her presence she dominated
his every thought and action, and now
that which before he had not called
into question seemed uncertain and
doubtful. He wondered now how he
could have been 50 weak as to let
the prophet Elijah escape him. He
recalled how when first Obadiah had
brought him word anger and revenge
filed his heart against the prophet,
and he fully intended to call him to
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 Israel?'
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 thundered 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 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 wicked life which comes to com.
pletely dominate another.
Shall we not summon the prophets
to Mount CarmelT at last he ven.
tured to ask, half doubtfully.
A wicked gleam came into the eyes
Of Jezebel as sudden thought came
to her and she said:
"We will let Obadiah decide. n he
thinkest his friend Elijah will keep
tryst with the prophets of Baal, let
them be summoned. But" and she
fairly hissed 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 word Ahab turned and
left the apartment. He knew 1t would
be useless to protest, even though he
chose to do so. The decision OF sum-
moning the prophets must rest with
Obadiah.
Remember" he exclaimed later,
when Obadiah had come to him In re-
sponse to his summons, remember, II,
means thy life IL the prophet Elijah
appeareth not!"
"Yes, I know" was the quiet re-
sponse. "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.
ing forth the shouts of admiration
and approval Of the great crowds Of
people as they followed.
"Baal shall have a fitting sacrifice
to-day" whispered Jezebel to her
chief prophet just before he took his
place in the procession. And then az
her eyes sought out Obadiah where he
stood surrounded by the guard she
had caused to be appointed, she add
ed: Let him not escape"
The hours passed wearisomely to
the queen. Her usual pleasures and
diversions failed to hold her atten.
tion. Confident as she was of the
outcome of the gathering on Mount
Carmel, her spirit was strangely Ill at
ease. That night troubled dreams
came to break her rest and the next
day found her in a state of nervous en-
citement and irritation from which
late in the afternoon she sought re-
lief by resting upon her couch. Not
a breath of air was stirring and; the
sun seemed more fierce in his heat
than ever, and as she lay down she
said to herself:
"Surely the gods will be appeased
this day and will send rain"
How long she slept she knew not,
but she was suddenly aroused By .
loud crash in the room and sprang mp
to find the wind blowing in a perfect
hurricane and the heavens SO. black
with clouds that she could scarcely
see in the gloom the broken frag.
ments of the big urn which had stood
before the open window. Trembling
and frightened she turned to Zee and
ran squarely into the arms, 6f somo
one who at that moment had come
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