The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-25
Husband Was Bewitched

husUduu w dS DtW1tCHtu
I'm one afternoon Nine CASTOR sudden
ly became a woman suddenly faced the
truth, suddenly realized that her husband
loved another woman, or was fascinated
by another woman, or bewitched.
AT first, of course, there was a scene.
Claire should never enter her house again,
her. presence in 1t was an insult, she
would go home TO her father. she would
sue for divorce, she would have the care
of the children. That was the end of her
wild talk.
when she spoke of the children she
knew that there was nothing to be done.
She knew that they loved their father,
and that their father loved them. and
with womans intuition she knew that
Castor loved his childrens mother as
much as it was in the man to love, and
she knew. of course, that she did not
really want to be parted from CASTOR for
ever
But there was the other woman-there
was Claire the woman who had been her
friend, whom she had trusted with the
thousand and one hopes and fears Which,
women tell one another. and which they
could tell no man on EARTH were he hus-
band father or brother.
Il am talking of some years ago.
see some of you looking surprised. for all
Paris thought that CASTOR. his wife and
Claire de b. were the best of friends al
ways. 7 have heard remarks about them
have never heard anything ugly said
without an immediate and angry denial
from sudden champion.
Wife Was Heartbroken
"And yet the scandalmongers were
right. though nobody knew It except the
three people concerned.
IA had to go to Philadelphia. He had
business interests there and he had ar
ranged to go alone. Claire was going to
New York. 1t was when Gastons wife
learned this that she insisted on crossing
the Atlantic with them. She did not say
much. There was no recrimination
''She merely said that she wanted to
go and that her presence would prevent
the possibility of scandal CASTOR did not
argue. All three went on the Titanic
when the crash came the two women
were in their cabins. CASTOR was playing
poker in the smoking room. He ran be-
low and went to his wife's cabin to tell
her to put on lifebelt. He left her, say
ing he would return In half moment.
Neither of the women was at all surprised
when they met together. each with life
belt on, at the head of the companion
way.
IT remember them all three now as they
stood on deck. There are very few things
about that awful Sunday night that | do
not remember. And now. as / speak OF
it, I see the picture of those three-the
two women who had been close friends
and who, though they hated each other.
now stood In the common danger with
their arms around each others should
ers. while CASTOR. few PAGES off.
gnawed at his long, fair mustache and
assured them that there was very little
need for fear
Tragic End to Story
"As you know we all thought for some
hours that the lifebelts had been ordered
on as a precaution merely. We knew
that the wireless was calling help to us:
we never really believed that there was
any danger.
Then things took tragic turn. Wher
all women were ordered into the boats
on a night at sea one realizes what a
fragile thing life is. don't know how
It happened. | remember standing watch
ing Claire. CASTOR and Gastons wife.
"One OF the officers passed He was
man who spoke French. ] remember
thinking how wonderfully well he spoke
II when he raped out a sharp order to
the WON en to get into the boat which was
going to be lowered He said, remem-
Der. that II was one Of the last boats.
"Claire held out both her hands and
CASTOR took them. He dared not look at
Ills WIFE but he caught Claire to him and
kissed her. His wife did not stir. Claire
was helped into the boat. and CASTOR
turned to his wife.
You will pardon me, dear. wifi you
not?' he said. | shall never forget her
face. 1t was radiant with joy. 1t seemed
to fame with delight from within. 4 am
not going into the boat, CASTOR was all
she said The next moment | was in
gulf OF icy green. and the next thing /
remember was a cabin on the Carpathia.
claire was saved. The sea kept the
bodies Of CASTOR and his wife. Little
Nine. CASTOR won in the fight for her
weak husband. I saw that in their two
faces before the Titanic went down"