THE FIRST BALL AT ELLISVILLE The wife of the section boss sat in conscious dignity, as became a leader of society.

She was gowned in purple, newly starched, and upon her bosom rose and fell the cross that Jerry gave her long ago.

Below her in order of station came Nora, the head waiter, and the red-headed waiter girl, and the littlest waiter girl, and the wife of the new grocery man.

These sat silent and unhappy at one part of the long row of chairs that lined the side of the hall.

Opposite to them, equally silent and equally unhappy, sat a little row of men.