In a small, isolated village, a woman arrives to claim her niece, Agnes, after the death of her sister. Rebecca Flint, a spinster from Michigan, is determined to take Agnes home with her. Upon her arrival, she encounters the current wife of her late brother-in-law, Emeline Dent, who appears to be hiding something. The atmosphere is tense, with Rebecca sensing an underlying hostility from Emeline. As Rebecca settles in, she becomes increasingly anxious about Agnes's whereabouts. Emeline's evasive answers and strange behavior raise Rebecca's suspicions. Agnes is often absent, supposedly spending time with friends, but Rebecca feels something is amiss. She experiences unsettling occurrences, such as hearing music from a piano when no one is present and witnessing a rosebush sway without wind. Rebecca's unease grows as she learns that Agnes has gone away with her friend, Addie, to Lincoln, leaving her feeling isolated and worried. Despite Emeline's dismissive attitude, Rebecca's determination to find Agnes intensifies. She visits the Slocums, Addie's family, only to discover they are not home, further deepening her anxiety. As the days pass, Rebecca's fears culminate when she receives a letter from home, revealing her cousin's supposed accident. However, upon returning home, she finds her cousin in good health, and the letter's postscript, which had prompted her return, was a deception. Meanwhile, her attempts to contact Emeline and the Slocums yield no responses, heightening her sense of dread. Ultimately, Rebecca learns the shocking truth: Agnes has been dead for over a year, and the village is rife with rumors of hauntings and neglect. The revelation shatters Rebecca's world, leaving her to grapple with the loss and the sinister secrets that surrounded her niece's life and death. The story explores themes of isolation, the complexities of familial relationships, and the haunting nature of unresolved grief.
By Mary E. Wilkins · First published 1903 · Genre: Gothic Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Literary Fiction