Semi=weekly graphic., 1896-12-19
4 TALE OF TW0C CITIES
A REAL ROMANCE THAT RIVALS ANY
 WOVEN IN FICTION

Frfbulatlons of e Fair Niece Who Sup
 planted Her spinster 4lstnt-Briven From
 Home on Heinons Charge. Her Lover
 Follows to Find and Marry Fer.
 Miss Lulu Fletcher, an erstwhi1e so- ciety belle of Cincinnati, is a very much wanted young woman, Chief of Detect ives Desmond has several of his men searching St. Louis for her. There is also young business man from Cincin- nati of the name of George Minturn, who has been in the city for several days searching for the same young woman, but for different purpose.
 Chief Desmond wants her on infor- nation received that a warrant for rob bery has been issued against her in tho Ohio oity, and if his men find her she will languish behind the bars until an officer arrives to escort her back to Gin oinnati.
 On the other hand, if she is found by Mr. Minturn, she will go back to Gin cinnati in high honor, and, if willing, will become tho bride of a man of wealth, who claims to be able to have the charges against her withdrawn and her name cleared of all suspicion of wrongdoing. Behind all this there lies a story which created quite furore in certain aristoeratio families in Ginoin- natl and caused the young woman to hurriedly leave that city.
 Miss Lulu Fletcher is very hand some young woman, 90 years of age, and for the last year has made her home with Miss Annie Fletcher, a spinster aunt, who is quite wealthy and who occupies a high social position. The niece is the orphan daughter of Miss Fletoher's only brother and was her prospective heir. The aunt has never married, because until she met George Minturn she had seen no one who had won her somewhat aged affec- tions. But when she met him she decided that he was the man she had been wait ing for these many years, and the feeling was apparently mutual. Everything went along smoothly until the niece ap- peared upon tho scene, and her beauty caused the young man to gradually transfer his affection from tho aunt to the niece.
 A few months ago the aunt noticed this change on the part of her lover and sent the niece away on visit in order to get her out oe the way, while she attempted by all the wiles known to the feminine mind to win back her reereant love. She was successful, and the wedding day was set After this important event the aunt felt secure and recalled the banished niece.
 The aunt closely watched the pair after the nieee's return, but noticed nothing to arouse her suspicion until about two weeks ago, when she decided that MT. Minturn cared entirely toe much for the niece and taxed him with it. He then declared that the niece was preferable to the aunt and that the en. gagement WAS to be considered at aT end, A hysteriea1 seance followed. dur ing which the niece was ordered t( leave tho house and forever remaiI away.
 Miss Lulu Fletcher left her aunt house and went to live with friend O her mothers who resided in anothe part of the city. About the same tint that Miss Fletcher left her aunt's housi 8 diamond brooch also disappeared. 4 few days later the aunt called at tn, house where Miss Fletcher was stepping and accused her of breaking open hoi jewel box and stealing the brooch Thii Miss Fletcher indignantly denied. bu the aunt insisted that it was true ant informed the young woman that shl would prosecute her if she would no consent 10 give up the affections of MT, Minturn and leave the city,
 Knowing her aunt's yindiotive dispo sition and fearful of arrest, Miss Fletcher agreed to do this and left at once for St. Louis. After Miss Fletcher's departure from Cincinnati NIr. Minturn refused tC have anything to dowith the amt, who decided that there was cellusion be- tween him and the niece and had the warrant issued.
 As sooa as Mir Minturn heard of the warrant he at once began to search for the young woman and claims that he is able to disproye the charges against he1 and will marry her and take her back to face the spinster aunt --Sr. Louis Re public.
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