Semi=weekly graphic., 1897-04-03
ATALE OF TWOCI1IE
A REAL ROMANCE THAT RIVALS ANY
 WOVEN IN FICTION.

Trtbulations of Fair Niece Who Sup
 planted Her spInster Aunt-Driven From
 Home on Heinous Charge. Her Lover
 FolIows to Find and Marry Her.
 Miss Lula Fletcher, an erstwhile so- ciety belle of Cincinnati, is 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- natl 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 warrant for rob- bery has been issued against her in the Ohio city, and if his men find her she will languish behind the bars until an officer arrives to escort her back to Gin Cinnati
 On the other hand, if she is found by Mir. Minturn, she will go back to Gin oinnati in high honor, and, if willing, will become the bride of man of wealth, who claims to be able to have the charges against her withdrawn and her name cleared of all suspicion of wrongdoing.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 story which created quite furore in certain aristooratio families in Cinoin- natl and caused the young woman to hurriedly leave that oity.
 Miss Lulu Fletcher is q very hand some young woman, 20 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 high social position. The niece is the orphan daughter of Miss Fletcher's only brother and was { her prospective heir. The aunt has never married, because until she met George Mintnrn she had seen no one who had won her somewhat aged atfec- 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 the scene, and her beauty caused the young man to gradually transfer his affection from the 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 a visit in order to get her out of the way, while she attempted by all the wiles known to the feminine mind to win back her recreant love. She was successful, and the wedding day was set After this 1 important event the aunt felb secure and recalled the bunished niece.
 The aunt closely watched the pair after the nieees return, but noticed nothing to arouse her suspicion until about two weeks ago, when she decided shat Mir Minturn cared entirely too aluch 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 an end. A hysterioal seance followed, dur l ing which the niece was ordered ta leave the house and forever remain away
 Miss Lulu Fletcher left her aunt's house and went to live with a friend of her mothers who resided ill another part of the city. About the same time that Miss Fletcher left her aunt's house a diamond brooch also disappeared 4 few days later the aunt called at the house where Miss Fletcher was stopping and accused her of breaking open her jewel hoX and stealing the brooch. This Miss Fletcher indignantly denied. but the aunt insisted that it was true and informed the young woman that she would prosecute her if she would not consent to give up the affections of Mir. Minturn and leave the city.
 Knowing her aunt's vindictive 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 Mir Minturn refused to have anything to dowitb the aunt, who decided that there was eollusion be. tween him and the niece and had the warrant issued.
 As soon as Mir. Minturn heard of ths warrant he at once began to search fog the young woman and claims that he is able to disprove the charges against her aud will marry her and take her back to face the spinster aunt. St. Louis Ra OubIir