In the story, Major Talbot, an old-fashioned Southern gentleman, is in Washington with his middle-aged daughter to find a publisher for his book of reminiscences. The major loves to talk about the old plantation days, and his stories attract the attention of a young actor named Henry Hopkins Hargraves. They become good friends and Major Talbot is happy to share his anecdotes until, one evening, he sees Hargraves at the theater playing the role of a Southern Colonel who bears an uncanny resemblance to him. Outraged by the impersonation, Major Talbot rejects Hargraves' apologies the following day. Having lost a friend and also having run out of money, the Talbots are desperate when help arrives from an unexpected direction.