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