Chapter I: Front Matter

THE IDOL OF THE BLIND

BOOKS BY T. GALLON.

Each, 12mo, cloth, $1.00; paper, 50 cents.

The Idol of the Blind.

"No person well posted in current fiction lets a story by Mr. Gallon pass unnoticed."--_Buffalo Commercial._

The Kingdom of Hate.

"The whole story is told with an appearance of honest, straightforward sincerity that is very clever and well sustained, and the suspicion of satire will only dawn on the reader when the story is well advanced, and he is thoroughly interested in the tumultuous swing."--_Chicago Chronicle._

Dicky Monteith. A Love Story.

"A good story, told in an engaging style."--_Philadelphia Press._

"A refreshing example of everything that a love story ought to be."--_San Francisco Call._

A Prince of Mischance.

"The story is a powerful one, and holds the reader from the start."--_Boston Budget._

"An admirable story."--_London Telegraph._

Tatterly.

"A charming love story runs through the book, which is written in a bright and lively style.... The book is worth reading."--_New York Sun._

"We believe in 'Tatterly' through thick and thin. We could not recommend a better story."--_London Academy._

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK.

THE IDOL
OF THE BLIND

_A NOVEL_

BY

TOM GALLON

AUTHOR OF
TATTERLY, A PRINCE OF MISCHANCE,
DICKY MONTEITH, ETC.

"When pious frauds and holy shifts
Are dispensations and gifts."
HUDIBRAS

NEW YORK
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY
1899

COPYRIGHT, 1899,
BY D. APPLETON AND COMPANY.
_All rights reserved._

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

I.--COMETHUP ENTERS LIFE DISASTROUSLY 1

II.--AND MAKES DISCOVERIES 10

III.--THE GHOST OF A LITTLE CHILD 20

IV.--THE CAPTAIN PLAYS THE KNIGHT-ERRANT 40

V.--TELLS OF AN ERRING WOMAN 55

VI.--THE CAPTAIN IN STRANGE COMPANY 62

VII.--IN WHICH SEPARATIONS ARE SUGGESTED 79

VIII.--COMETHUP SUFFERS A LOSS 88

IX.--THE COMING OF AUNT CHARLOTTE 100

X.--COMETHUP LEAVES THE OLD LIFE 115

XI.--AND BECOMES A PERSONAGE 131

XII.--THE CAPTAIN SPEAKS HIS MIND 141

XIII.--A RETROSPECT--AND A FLUTTERING OF HEARTS 158

XIV.--AN INCUBUS, AND THE DEMON OF JEALOUSY 175

XV.--COMETHUP PRACTISES DECEPTION 183

XVI.--COMETHUP IS SHADOWED 199

XVII.--THE BEGINNINGS OF A GENIUS 214

XVIII.--AUNT CHARLOTTE IS SYMPATHETIC 231

XIX.--GENIUS ASSERTS ITSELF 247

XX.--THE DESERTION OF A PARENT 262

XXI.--GENIUS AND THE DOMESTIC VIRTUES 276

XXII.--A SECOND DESERTION 286

XXIII.--COMETHUP DRIVES A BARGAIN 301

XXIV.--UNCLE ROBERT HAS AN INSPIRATION 311

XXV.--THE FALL OF PRINCE CHARMING 327

XXVI.--BRIAN PAYS HIS DEBTS 332

XXVII.--THE PLEADING OF THE CAPTAIN 351

XXVIII.--MEDMER MELTS A SILVER SPOON 361

XXIX.--COMETHUP LEARNS THE TRUTH 369

XXX.--AUNT CHARLOTTE ATTENDS A CELEBRATION 374

THE IDOL OF THE BLIND.