Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-01-10
THE FATAL SHOT.
Gambetta's Death she Results OF tn
Fury OF n Woman Scernea.

Gambetta's Death she Results Of the
Fury ola Woman Seernea.
Paris, January 9.-6ambetta was not
above the superstitions of his family.
sTwice," ;" said fortune teller to Gambetta's
mother, will your son control the desti-
nies of France, and then he will die by the
hand Of woman" To the effect which
this had upon her mind was ascribed her
leagerness to give her son an education far
beyond his standing as the sen of an hum
BILE grocer. Gambetta affected to laugh az
such superstitions, but not always. He
seems to have made the acquaintance of
Nine. Leonie Leon, as she has Sf late been
known, about eleven years ago. For many
years he maintained mcnage in the Rue
Bonaparte with Nine. Leon, visiting her at
first with circumspection, but latsr, when
at the height of his success disayowing TALL
concealment and
Appearing With Her Publicly.
Finally she became hepartner OF his coun-
try life at Vile d'Avray.
Mime. Leon was the wife of solicitor
named Andre, and when Gambetta first
met her she was a woman OF great beauty
and distinction of appearance. As their
intimacy advanced she grew desiroHs of
sharing his ambitions. She was mistress at
Vile d'Avray, she presided at Gambetta's
dinners, and was present at his informal
councils, and while his prosperity and ac-
tivity continued she gratitied her wishes in
the political world of her lover in no small
degree Later Gambetta changed. lie be-
came morbid, prey to fits of depression,
and sought to seclude himself among his
books. He saw few of his friends, and
physically ana mentally showed deter.
nation to lethargy. He was disappointed;
his patience did not accord with his years;
he did not feel able to wait.
The Beginning Of the End
About eighteen months ago the solicitor
died, and to Nine. Leon the wo.ld looked
brighter than ever. She thought Gambet-
ia would certainly marry her. She had
visions of salon, of a brilliant republic of
letters and art, of which she should be the
absolute mistress, and to all this distinc.
tion she saw the way clear before her. II
was impossible Gamhctta said. To the re.
public he owed his first duty. and be could
not afford to imperil his position. He was
inhexible, and there was no longer peace at
Vile d. Avary. Nine. Leris, his sister, had
long advised him TO marry as became his
opportunities, and it finally came to Nine.
Icons ears that he was
Engaged to Mile. Daltonshea,
a niece of that General Daltonshea who was
une of the deers OF France, lady OF beau
ty and fortune,
This meant that he would soon be total
ly lost to her, and she at once sough: TO
establish its truth. He admitted, it is said,
that circumstances compelled him to
change his mode OF life, that the sooner she
accepted the inevitable the better, that his
position and responsibilities made the pro-
ceeding imperative and so on. Erenzied
with rage and disappointment, she drew
pistol, which she says she intended for her
self, aimed it at Gambetta and fired. At
the first movement he had rushed toward
her to wrest the weapon from her. He was
too late. The bali entered the palm of his
hand, and ranging upward, came out of the
upper part of the forearm. 1t was pain
full. but not necessarily a dangerous
wound.