The Detroit times., 1908-08-13
M0THERSTRANGELY
. HATES BEAUTIFUL
DAUGHTER
CULTURED, GENEROUS AND
WEALTHY, WOMAN HAS RE.
FUSED TO CARE FOR CHARMING
GIRL SINCE HER BIRTH.

BABYLON. L. l.. Aug. 13.-As
strange story as ever has been re-
corded In fact or Action has come to.
light here. with the news that Mrs.
Eg6ert V. Strong, wealthy. beautiful
and considered generous 10 a marked
degree. has daughter 20 years old
whom the mother has refused 70 care
for since birth.
The most mysterious fact In the case
is that nobody. not even her husband.
can conceive of any reason for the
strange adherence Of her only child.
Mrs. Egbert V. Strong Is rated the
wealthiest woman among the perma.
nent residents OF Babylon, L. |. Her
home, In the most aristocratic section.
is stately white mansion. shaded by
great trees and surrounded by we'll
kept grounds. She Is famed for he:
diamonds. her gowns and her exclu'
siveness. Mr.. Strong, her husband. Is
democratic and popular. His two
steam yachts are among the finest
and fastest on Great South bay, and
the big gray automobile in which he
rides daily with his wife is costly
machine OF high power For nearly 20
years the Strongs have lived alone In
luxurious ease. leaving their home
only to pass the winters In Florida.
seemingly a devoted couple without 4
care. Apparently their one shadow
was the lack of children. Through all
the years Mrs. Strong has posed as
childless wife and her wealthy ac-
quaintances have given her unstinted
sympathy.
Thrice Driven From Home.
Three times during the 20 years,
1.-The father has brought mother and
daughter together. hoping that natura.
affection could be aroused But each
time Mrs. Strong drove her child from
the home.
Twice, In recent years. Mr.. Strong
has joined his daughter declaring that
he would never return to his wife's
home without the girl. But both
times the wife triumphed and he re.
turned to her alone
The few who know the facts speak
OF Mr.. Strong as kind man, who
loves his rich wife and IL powerlesS
to withstand her influence.
A strikineIy Pretty Girl.
Marion Goodale Strong, the daugh.
ter now 20, lives with the family OF
r. J. Hunt. Of Trumansbur. but she
10 temporarily at the Cornell hotel. on
the shores Of Cayuga lake. There Is
nothing In the girls appearance or
personality TO account for the moth
er's hatred. She Is strikingly pretty.
with large brown eyes, delicately CHS
elled features and a petite, well round
ed figure.
To Marion Strong and all the
world besides. the mothers hatred
Is mystery. No one can tell from
what II springs. To no one has MRS.
Strong, so far as can be learned, ever
attempted an explanation.
Father Tells of His Misery.
Mr.. Strong. seen at Babylon. was
overwhelmed on learning that the
family secret was out.
Il cannot talk about my little daugh-
ter" said Mr.. Strong. greatly agitat-
ed. 1T would be useless for me to
deny the facts. tbut to make any state
ment would only add to my troubles.
My daughter Is as good and pure
and sweet girl as there Is in the
world Her mother might well be
proud OF her. Yet my wife drove her
away as babe. She will not look at
her Our home is closed to her. But
this shall not continue. | have built
another house here In Babylon. II
Is for my daughter She shall rule
there In a home Of her own.
God alone knows why she does It,"
he said, sadly. Il OF all men ought
to know, but do not. | only know"
with an emphatic shake of his lower
ed head-''that she is not insane. No,
she knows exactly what she Is do
ing
Mother Cuts off Allowance.
Until recently the actual expense OF
Marion's clothing was covered by
money transmitted to Marion through
her mothers lawyers. From the IA
Their came regular remittances suffi-
cient to pay for the girls schooling
But recently the checks from Mrs.
Strong ceased abruptly and that all
remains to the girl is small allow
ance from her father.
Nevertheless, there is not shadow
Of bitterness In Marion Strong's heart
To friends she speaks OF her mother
in way that makes the listeners
struggle to keep back the tears.
"Yel, II is true that mother will
not see ma, but try TO be happy just
the same" said the girl. with a smile.
And yet | love my mother with all
my heart" she added In lower tones.
"Shew Ill not let me go to her for
some reason. but she is my mother
and | pray for her and think OF her