GAMBETTA'S LIAISON.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3630, 1 March 1883, Page 4

GAMBETTA'S LIAISON.

Gambetta seems to have made the acquaintance of Mine. Levy-Leon, as she has of late been known, about eleven years ago. There had been a preceding-liaison of some duration with .some one else, of -which a son, now at school in Germany, was the result. For many years lie maintained a mnnnjv in the Hue Bonaparte with Mine. Leon, visiting- her at first with circumspection, but later, when at the height of his success, disavowing- nil concealment and appearing with her publicly. Finally, wlie became the partner of his country life at the Villo d'Avray. Mine. Leon was ihe wife of a solicitor named Andre, and when Gambetta first met her was a woman of the greatest beauty and distinction of appearance. At 31 she is still handsome. As their intimacy advanced she became desirous of sharing his ambitions. She wa.s mistress at the Villo d'Arvay. She presided atOambetta's dinners, and was present at his informal councils, and while his prosperity actively continued she gratified her wishes in the political world of her lover, in a small degree. Later, Gambcrta changed. He became more a prey to fits of despondency, and sought to seclude himself among his books. Ho saw few friends, and both physically and mentally showed a predisposition to inactivity. He was disappointed. His patience did not accord witii his years. He did not feel able to wait. About eighteen months ago the solicitor died, and to Mine. Leon theVorld looked brighter than ever. She thought that Gambetta would certainly marry her. She had visions of a salon of a brilliant republic of letters and of art, of which she should be absolute mistress, and of all this distinction she saw the way clear before her. It was impossible, Gambetta said: to the republic he owed his first duty, and he could not afford to imperil his position. He was inflexible, and there was no longer pence, at the Ville d'Arvay. Mine. Leriiy, Gambetta's sister, had long advised him to niary as became his opportunities, and it finally came to Mine. Leon's ear that he was engaged to Mdle. Dalton Shea, a niece of that Dalton Shea who wa.s one of the Peers of France, a lady of beauty and fortune. This meant that he would shortly be totally lost to Mine. Leon, and she at once sought to establish the truth. He admitted 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 proceeding imperative; and so, frenzied with rage find disappointment, she drew a pistol, which she says she intended for herself, aimed it at Gambetta and iired. At the first movement he had rushed forward to her wrest the weapon from her. lie was too late. The hall entered the palm of his hand, and, ranging upward, came out of the under part of the forearm. It was a painful but not necessarily dangerous wound. To Gambetta, however, it was fatal. He was already a victim to diabetes, and the shock to his nervous system and the mental disturbance which ensued were more than he could sustain.