Oxford eagle., 1908-03-12

[ thy fingers again, and while the proph-
cts OF Baal are gathering on Mount
Carmel Elijah will be t.r. far away"
Ahab vas silent II, influence OF
his wife was so strong upon Aim that
. when In her presence she dominated
bis every thought and action. and now
that which before be had no; 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 frs; Obadiah Lad
brought him word anger and revenge
filed his heart against the prophet.
and be fully intended 10 call him TO
a severe accounting. but as be had
come into that commaatiu. presence
h.s courage had failed hl-s and viii. \
desperate EFFORT a. the display OF
xinsly dignity and authority be had
demanded.
Art thou he that trouhleth Israeli
And then the piercing eyes of the
prophet had been fixed upon him.
seemingly looking right through him.
and making him quail and trenble as
his words OF accusation and con
demnstion were Numbered forth.
With bowed head he had listened.
and when the prophet had commanded
him to summon all the prophets OF
Baal 10 Mount Carmel he had prom
ised like a child TO obey.
But now under the spell OF his vife's
~ffrfnrs -
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
plesely dominate another.
Shall ne not summon the prophets
70 Mount Carmel.- AZ last lie ven
tured TO ask. half doub,fally.
A wicked gieam came into the eyes
Of Jerebel as sudden thought came
to her and she said:
We will let Obadiah decide. n h.
thinkest lis friend Elijah will keep
tryst with the prophets Of Baal. let
them be summoned. But" and she
fairly hissed the words as she leanei
toward Ahab. II Elijah come not
and he won't-veriiy tho life of oba-
diah shall - forfeited. He shaT
atone with his blood for the arront Of
fered Baal-
Without word Ahab turned AMI
left the apartment He knew IL would
be useless to protest. even though he
chose TO do so. The decision Of sum
moning the prophets mus. 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. ! 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 Basl 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 lust before he took his
place in the procession. And then ss
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
Tha hnVra
the queen Her usual pleasures and
diversions failed to hold her atten-
ton 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 ex-
element 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 Wa suddenly aroused BY 4
loud crash in the room and sprang up
to find the wind blowing in a perfec,
hurricane and the heavens so black
with clouds that she could scarcely
see in the gloom the broken frax
ments of the big urn which had stood
before the open window. Trembling
and frightened she turned to fee and
ran squarely into the arms of some
one who at that moment had come
hurrying down the passageway. A sud
den fash Of lightning revealed the
awe-stricken face of Ahab bendins
over her
What aileth thee?" she whispered
"Taketh thou the death OF OBADIAH
thus to heart?"
Nay. Obadiah Iveth." Ahab ex
claimed. and the prophet Elijah haiti
appeared on the mount and his Goo
hath answered him with FIRE, and tn.
prophets are slain"
All the prophets?' she asked
trembling like an aspen.
Yea, ALL"
WARNINGS FOR FLAT HUNTERS