"She never came back. Oh, my darling, where are you? What has become of you?" moaned the anxious mother, and her lovely, delicate face paled with fear. "Do not be alarmed, Grace. I will soon find her for you," her husband cried, and Lord Chester, eager to be of use, added: "I will assist you if you will describe your daughter to me." Senator Winans cried impulsively: "She is the most beautiful girl you ever saw. Only sixteen, with blue eyes like velvet pansies, golden curls sweeping to her waist, a white silk gown, and pearls on her lovely white neck." A low, muttered word came from Ethel's lips, but they did not catch its import, and turned away. Only her tearful mother saw the livid pallor that overspread the beautiful face and the flash of anger in the dark eyes. CHAPTER III. "THEY HAVE CHEATED ME OF THE LOVE THAT SHOULD BE MINE." "How does a woman love? Once, no more, Though life forever its loss deplore; Deep in sorrow, or want, or sin, One king reigneth her heart within; One alone by night and day Moves her spirit to curse or pray." --ROSE TERRY COOKE. An hour's frantic search convinced Senator Winans that his daughter was not in the immense ballroom, and inquiry among the door-keepers brought to light something very startling. A young man had left the ballroom an hour before, carrying an unconscious girl in his arms. He had told the doorkeeper that she was his sister, that she had fainted in the crowd, and that he was going to put her in his carriage, and take her home. When the man described the beauty of the unconscious girl, the soft white silk gown, and the long golden curls, the agonized senator could no longer doubt that his darling had been kidnaped by some villain, and carried off to some terrible unknown fate. It was terrible to think that such a thing could be in that gala scene among those thousands of joyous people, and in that blaze of light and splendor. It was like a sword in her father's heart. His face grew ashen, his eyes blazed, and he swore the most terrible revenge on the fiend who had stolen Precious. "Oh, my darling, my darling, this news will break her mother's heart!" he groaned. "But she has another daughter left to comfort her," ventured the elegant young Englishman. "Yes, we have Ethel. She is a good daughter, but Precious was our favorite, our darling." "But why? Miss Winans is very charming," cried Lord Chester, a little jealous for the beautiful girl he admired so much. "Yes, Ethel is charming, but so was my little Precious. She was charming and winsome, too, my youngest born, my darling, the idol of my heart!" groaned the senator, completely overcome by his trouble. Lord Chester began to feel an eager curiosity over the missing girl. Was she, indeed, as lovely and winsome as her father declared? She must be if her charms exceeded Ethel's. He held out a sympathetic hand to the stricken father.