Short Answer 
The short story by Irving Washington introduces a group of guests spending a night at a host’s home, with one room being notorious for its haunting. The narrator, assigned to this haunted room, encounters a chilling picture that symbolizes the haunting, leading to eerie experiences that shift from amusement to intrigue among the guests as the night progresses.
Step 1: Introduction to the Guests
In Irving Washington’s short story, a group of guests arrives at the home of a host where they will be spending the night. Each guest is assigned to a different room, adding a sense of intrigue and anticipatory emotion to the gathering. Among these rooms, one is particularly notorious for being haunted, a fact that the host subtly hints at to his visitors.
Step 2: The Haunted Room and its Picture
The narrator of the story occupies the room believed to be haunted. In this room, he encounters a chilling picture that evokes feelings of horror and strong aversion. This picture becomes a significant symbol in the narrative, as it is linked to the haunting and deeply affects the narrator’s experience during the night.
Step 3: The Unraveling of the Story
As the night unfolds, the narrator shares his eerie experience regarding the haunted picture and his encounter with a ghost. Initially, the guests find his story amusing and laugh, dismissing his fears. However, the host later reveals that there might be some truth to the haunting, turning laughter into intrigue and adding layers of tension to the narrative.