ORE BALL

It was the night of the sophomore ball. For a week past the class had been
making preparations. The gymnasium had been transformed into a veritable
bower of beauty. Every palm in Oakdale that could be begged, borrowed or
rented was used for the occasion. Drawing rooms had been robbed of their
prettiest sofa cushions and hangings, to make attractive cosy corners in
the big room.

The walls were decorated with evergreens and class banners, while the
class colors, red and gold, were everywhere in evidence. The sophomores
had been recklessly extravagant in the matter of cut flowers, and bowls of
red roses and carnations ornamented the various tables, loaned by fond
mothers for the gratification of sophomore vanity.

The girls had worked hard to outdo previous sophomore affairs, and when
all was finished the various teachers who were invited to view the general
effect were unanimous in their admiration.

Once a year each of the four High School classes gave some sort of
entertainment. Readers of "GRACE HARLOWE'S PLEBE YEAR" will remember the
masquerade ball given by the sophomores, now juniors, and the active part
taken by Grace and her chums in that festivity.

The present sophomores had decided to make their ball a larger affair than
usual, and had sent out invitations to favored members of the other
classes. An equal number of boys had been invited from the boys' High
School, and the party promised to be one of the social events of Oakdale.

Mrs. Gray and a number of other prominent women of Oakdale, were to act as
patronesses. Mrs. Harlowe, usually a favorite chaperon with Grace's crowd,
had been ignored for the first time, and Grace was cut to the quick over
it. As for Grace herself, she had not been appointed to a single
committee. Prominent heretofore in every school enterprise, it was galling
to the high-spirited girl to be deliberately left out of the preparations.
Nora had been asked to help receive and Jessica had been appointed to the
refreshment committee, but on finding that Grace was being snubbed, both
had coldly declined to serve in either capacity.

The four chums held more than one anxious discussion as to the
advisability of even attending the ball.

"I think we ought to go, just to show those girls that we are impervious
to their petty insults," declared Grace. "We have as much right there as
any one else, and I am sure the boys we know will dance with us whether
the rest of the girls