So Fatma was married to Abdul. But neither she nor any other ever knew that the iron casket connected with her young lord's rise and power was empty. The Caliph advised his son-in-law to maintain the deepest silence as to the absence of the magic jewels. In the fifth year of their wedded life the Caliph, feeling the weight of advancing years, abdicated in Abdul Kassim's favour, so the verse on the casket lid was fulfilled, and Abdul Kassim reigned many, many years over Bagdad, the best and wisest ruler who had ever ascended the throne. Allah's name be praised! _The Queer Side of Things._ [Illustration: THE BEAUTY-COLLEGE TOY.] "Mother! _Have_ you seen this?" exclaimed Genevieve. "_Do_ listen what the paper says:-- "'_The latest American notion is the recently instituted College of Beauty in New York. The College course knows nothing of dyes, or cosmetics, or powders.... One branch of study deals with the features of the face. The most enchanting beauty of expression will result from the methods adopted in the College. The effect of music on the features receives great attention; the eyes are to be enlarged by Verdi's music; the air of intelligence heightened by Chopin's; and various other ameliorations brought about by other composers, and poets, and so forth._' Just fancy, mother!" Genevieve was wrapped in silent musing for some minutes; then she arose and crossed over to the mirror and gazed critically into it. "Of course, it's all nonsense, mother, eh?" she said. "Most absurd nonsense, my love--most absurd!" replied Mother. Then Genevieve opened the piano abstractedly and began passing her fingers mechanically over the keys, which, strange to say, gave forth an air by Verdi. The mirror was right opposite Genevieve as she sat at the piano, and she looked casually at it many times. When tea-time came, two hours and a half later, she was still strumming--strumming a little thing by Verdi, as it happened. Mother sat and smiled upon her indulgently. * * * * * That night, when Genevieve had retired to rest, she heard the faint sounds of the piano from the drawing-room; it was playing an air from Verdi. Mother was the only person downstairs who could play the piano. "Mother," said Genevieve, next day, "of course that _must_ be all nonsense about the College of Beauty, eh? Of course, it would be quite impossible to make oneself more beautiful by----" "Of course, Jenny, of course--sheer nonsense!" said Mother. "Ye-es, of course," said Jenny. "But I've often thought I _should_ so love to see New York--haven't you?" "New York is--no doubt--a--a very interesting place," said Mother. "_Do_ let's go--just to see New York!" said Genevieve. "Er--well; I'll speak to papa about it. You _do_ want a change," said Mother. There was a ring.