The Impersonator

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Mary Lang was brought up in an orphanage, never knowing luxury but always craving it Her particularly asset was beauty when she walked into the studio of May Hadding, an American girl studying in Paris. May had cravings, too. They were chiefly divided between a certain Gus Schulze and the desire to paint. But a letter received that day from a rich aunt in America whom she had never seen, inviting her to come to America on the strength of a photograph she had sent--purporting to be of herself, but was actually Mary Lang--had caused her much unease. The sight of Mary prompted a confession and proposal from May that she go across the ocean in her stead, and carry out the deception that May had started. Mary's anger over the unpermitted use of her photograph was quickly dispelled by the opportunity to bask in the lap of luxury, and so, three weeks later, when Mary walked into Mrs. Whiting's drawing room in Washington, and saw the frank look of approval on her supposed aunt's face, she felt absolutely secure in her position. Her beauty won her many admirers. Especially did the quiet manly dignity of Congressman Hyland appeal to her. And when she saw that he loved her, she realized for the first time how impossible was her position. She was an impostor and he believed in her. What happened next so surprised Mary that she could hardly realize that it was true. It happened at the home of Count Portucarrero, a foreign ambassador; she discovered, hanging in his library, a portrait of her own mother. She implored the count to tell her if he knew anything of her father; he assured her that he did not, but she instinctively felt that he could tell her much--if he desired. Mary then began to receive letters from May that threatened her with exposure unless she would remit some of the money that she, May, supposed she was getting from her aunt. Added to this, Leonard Bishop, an American whom she had known in Paris turned up, confronted Mary, and threatened to denounce her unless she introduced him to her set. Then May Hadding appeared and claimed she came to denounce Mary and claim her own rights, but Mary forestalled her; in a scene of remarkable dramatic power, Mary denounced herself. Mrs. Whiting was amazed, but on catching sight of the real niece, who was as ugly as she was selfish, she ordered both of them to leave her home. Mary was taken in by a certain Mrs. Jerome at the request of Count Portucarrero, who was on his deathbed. He eventually sent for Mary, disclosed the fact that she was his daughter, and a countess and an heiress in her own right. No longer an impostor, Mary proceeded to remember those who tried to forget her, and at last she was free to go to the one who had loved her even in her degradation.