Clarence was in the office of a wealthy broker who had made his fortune by auch ventures as these, and Clarence had somehow contrived to get his clerkly fingers into the golden pie. • '.' There is just one share left on our books at one hundred pounds," said Clarence, earnestly. "That's par— and they'll run up like a Bky-rock'et as soon as people under stand the value. of the concern. ' Modie and Co. will let me have it. I've all my own Capital. invested, already, and if you choose to put in your hundred, that is earning a Miserable five per cent, in that Blow-going pavings-bank, why it'll be the best day's work- you ever did !' { " Couldn't I have twenty-four hours to flunk it over ?" said Valencia, sorely puzzled to decide. | "Oh, if you wish it, certainly," said Hey. ward, impatiently shrugging his shoulders ; I' but Modie and Co. aren't going to allow an offer like that to remain open long. Now's your chance, Valencia, I tell you." I " I wilMet you know my decision to-mor low evening, • Clarence," said Valencia. ('And; l'm very much obliged to you for re membering me." I When') Clarence Heyward was gone, Valencia sat down again to her work— the monotonous .correcting of a pile of French exercise books ; but' as she added an accent here, and struck out a false verb there, with mechanical accuracy, her thoughts were wandering far away into the possible future. I "If I should invest this money as Clarence Suggests,"- pondered she, " and it should double Itself as quickly as he says, I could help Orrin Richards in his business, and we could be married this year instead of waiting until 'next. And oh !" — with brightening eyes and a deepening flush of crimson on her cheeks— "what a delightful surprise for him it would,be !" 1 For Valencia, dull and plodding as had been the current of her daily life, had yet a little romance of her own. Valencia was very'"p'r ) eity, too^ with soft, almond-shaped eyes, hair of so dark a brown that you could scarcely have told it from black, and pretty pink cheeks, where the roses came and went like floating shadows. 