The sole topic of conversation among the girls at the Eagle Lunch Room is the coming ball to be given by the “Associated Waiters.” Most of the girls are anxious to attend and discuss eagerly the problem of what to wear. Mary Francis, however, tells the girls that she does not care about going. One of the girls insists that she accept a ticket in spite of her protest that she cannot use it. Among the regular customers that patronize Mary’s tables is Philip Marston, a wealthy clubman and stockbroker. At the lunch hour next day, Mary absent-mindedly places the ball ticket before him instead of the lunch check. Marston laughingly calls attention to her mistake and she becomes covered with confusion. He asks her about the affair and whether she is going. She tells him that she will stay away as she has no beau to take her. Touched by her loneliness and regarding the affair as more of a lark than anything else, Marston offers to escort her and takes the address of the boarding house where she is staying. The great problem for Mary now is the matter of suitable clothes. She has nothing that is of any use to her as a ball dress, but is kindly helped out by the girls in the house, one of whom lends her a dress, another a switch for her hair, and so on. While the old lady boarder insists on her wearing a necklace that she had worn as a girl. By the time that she is all ready, Marston arrives in his automobile, bringing with him a glorious bunch of roses. At the ball, Mary proves to be an uncommonly graceful dancer and the eyes of everyone in the room are turned upon her and her partner. Towards the close of the evening a prize is offered for the handsomest couple and is won by Mary and Marston. Phillip takes her home and so closes what has been to him simply a passing incident, casting away as valueless the rose that Mary hands him on parting. Mary, however, fondly treasures the prize and the faded rose leaves and clings to the remembrance of every event of the evening as her sweetest memory.