The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-08-25
THE POPULAR MAN,
BY CERNIX.

lhleghanles. The quiet influences Of the
day had SO luled me into a dreamy
thoughttulness, and l scarcely noticed
the crowded streets and stirring ,h:onc
OF the village as entered. However, the
excited shouts of Hurrah for Watson
soon recalled my mind to the remembrance
that it was election day, and informed OF
the fact that somo individual hy the
name of Watson, was probably the for
tunate candidate
Watson thought I, Watson {" What
name for Congressman Why, it
is very little better than Watts. Go it
Watsonu
Hooray for W. W." roarcd out Il
drunken fellow, stumbling into the street
from grogshop.
w. Watson. The name struck me
forcibly, and repeated i: to myself sew
eral times. why, surely thought, it
can't be Bill Watson, of college times.
And yet, now that remember, he ayas from
this State. But he was of such fiery.
uncompromislng disposition .ha. h" never
could be elected corporal of the company,
or even secretary Of the debating So
cety at college. 1t can't hc or " W."
Afr putting up at the ;nn. aud clean.
sing my person and aPnar.I i-o:, the
dust Of travel, us we'll as | could with The
implements Tor that purpose, conveniently
located Oh the side porci. Of the establish,
nent, inquired Of mine host, whether
there were within the circle of his ne
quaintance an individual by the name OF
VIM. Wallace Watson. The Jolly land
lord, who evidently ,hungh, he SAW throuyI,
the joke, shut one eye and replied, Oh
no, not by no means. Never hcarn on
him.
Not ha9ing exactly expected an af-
firmative reply, WAS rather taken
aback 10y this ironical negative, but in
a moment recovered sufficiently to 20
lie isn't about thirty years old, &"rposc,
tall and dark!
Or course not no morc'n hes run
for Congress and Lcc?: elected this :cry
day
And mine host rolled off cluckl;nr a.
my dry, quiet humor.
was non p!ussed. W. W. Watson,
same name precisely as ocr ". w. tail,
dark and thirty, the same man to u frac
ton, and Of the sa:no a,,:,e that ours ough,
to be BY It's time. Aud then again it
could ..oS be. Our w. w, though IL,
hear, a cln"9- fellow and honorable, was
unpopular. lie had some Of the warm,
est friends. but e. number of bitter enc
mics whc continually worked agains,
him, some openly, others covcr,ly.
Look here, Salnbo,' said 20 the
darkey, who had taken my horse did
this Mr.. Watson ever 70 to college a,
'Lor bless yo;:i',, n,assa, l don't know
you, sir, dzactly. Spect he did, though
he's nightly educated, sir, tell you
The more the mystsry hattled my re.
searches the scofc Interested lc:a,,,c in
solving it. Besides Watson had always
been favorte of mine, and SO, bending
my course up what seemed .o le Mai,
street, started on voyage of discovery
wv. ". Watson; attorney and counsellor
at law soon caught my eye, painted ovc
the door of an Office, before which !hrona
of people were collected l pushed my
way through the crowd until CAME i'm
mediatcly in front Of a gentleman who
seemed to be the centre Of attraction
Our eyes met, and there was mutua
recognition, though dozen years la,
elapsed since Our last meeting. Thcl
came the warmest greeting on both parts
and an introduction of myself TO th
crowd, who extended their enthusiasm t,
my owti person with such hearty good wil
tha! | began to think could run right wei
for Congress myself.
Ten o'clock that nigh. found me snuel,
ensconsed in my friends cheerful library
the atmosphere somewhat rcdolent Of Gu
ban perfume. At length said We'll
now, Bill, tell me candidlv, how did yo,
ever get TO be popular manl' Wa,so
reflected moment, his eyes fixed on til
ceiling, and a slight smile Of sa,isfactio
on his handsome faco, teforo he re
piled:
. It is the story Of a struggle. You kno,
yourself what obstacles I must Law
Encountered id achieving such a pos
tion.'
YES l said, you always managed
Keep on hand plentiful stock of ene,nie
at college,
Fact he replied, laughing hearth,
But now never allow myself to indulp