The Oblong Box

The narrator books a passage from Charleston to New York and encounters an artist friend, Mr. Cornelius Wyatt, along with his wife and sisters, who are all traveling together in a curious arrangement. During the journey, a large oblong box—possibly a painting or something more mysterious—is transported with Mr. Wyatt, adding an intriguing element to the voyage. The story hints at hidden secrets surrounding the party and the mysterious cargo, setting the stage for a suspenseful maritime journey.