CHAPTER XV.
_The History of William Bucholz._--_An Abused Aunt who Disappoints His Hopes._--_A Change of Fortune._--_The Soldier becomes a Farmer._--_The Voyage to New York._ William Bucholz had been an inmate of the hotel for several weeks prior to this time, having arrived from Germany in the latter part of July.

He was somewhat of a favorite with the people with whom he associated, and being of a free and jovial disposition had made many friends during his limited residence in the city.

As he is to bear an interesting part in the sequence of this narrative a few words may not be out of place in regard to his antecedents.
The father of Bucholz, who was a veterinary surgeon of some prominence in Schweigert, had reared his children in comparative comfort, and had provided them with a liberal education.
The early years of young Bucholz had been spent with an uncle, who was very fond of him, and delighted to have him near his person.

This uncle was a brother of his father, and very late in life had married a lady of large fortune, but whose appearance was not at all prepossessing.

As William grew into manhood he entered the army and became connected with the "Brunswick Hussars." Here he distinguished himself principally by leading a life of dissipation and extravagance, which made him an object of remark in his regiment.