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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.




CHAPTER I.

COMETHUP ENTERS LIFE DISASTROUSLY.


"My dear" had looked her last upon a troublesome world. She had taken
life sighingly, in little frightened gasps, as it were, with the fear
upon her, even from childhood, that unknown horrors lurked for her
in each day to which she was awakened. It can scarcely be said that
she had clung to life with any tenacity--rather with the instinct of
living; and she had fluttered out of it resignedly enough, a little
sorry, perhaps, that she had left any one behind to grieve for her. And
yet, with the inconsistency which had marked her life, she had died at
the very moment when life had actually begun to be worth living for her.

"My dear" was one of those who wait long for the happiness, if any,
that is to come to them, and find it a little tasteless when it is
at last given to them. She had been the younger child of a stern and
unbending man, who bent or broke to his code of rules those who were
weak enough to be bent or broken, and thrust sternly aside those whose
strength