For October 26
Plot:
Mrs. Irene Barton and her friend Mrs. May Watcombe discuss the unusual appearance of the sumach (more commonly spelled sumac) tree in the garden of Irene’s new house. The leaves have turned red early in August.
Irene is sad. Her husband is away in London. Only two days earlier, she lost her dog Spot. She shows her friend the dog’s little grave under the sumach. They find a dead thrush.
Mrs. Watcombe says she hasn’t seen the leaves this red since Geraldine was ill with acute anemia.
Irene tells her it’s only the summer heat turning the leaves.
Later, because of the heat, Irene can’t sleep. She gets up, goes outside, and walks to the tree. Its trunk and branches are bent as if making a little couch. She sits, drowses, and dreams of welcoming her husband, Hilary, back from London. The dream becomes a nightmare. His embrace is rough, and his kisses painful.
Thoughts:
While not what one would call great literature, this tale has a certain penny-dreadful charm. Poor Irene! Her husband/protector is away. She’s just lost her dog. There’s only nosey Mrs. Watcombe around in her new house, which belonged to her cousin, Geraldine. And Geraldine succumbed to anemia about as quickly as any human can. No wonder Mrs. Watcombe panics when she sees Irene looking pale and wan!
Mrs. Watcombe does not like the sumach tree. Something is wrong with it. Maybe Snidley Whiplash lurks behind its prematurely red leaves?
Cue the player piano.
It’s another story where the reader wants to grab some of the characters, shake them, and say, “Stop doing that! It’s not good for you!”
The end is not a surprise, and the explanation is… goofy. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this lightweight little yarn.
Bio: Ulric Daubeny (1888-1922) I could find little about this British author. He seems to have written one book of speculative fiction, The Elemental: Tales of the Supernormal and the Inexplicable (1919), a book on Cotswold churches, and another on the history of musical instruments. What wide-ranging tastes.
The text can be read here:(p. 28)
The story can be listened to here: (23:59)
Title: “The Sumach”
Author: Ulric Daubeny (1888-1922)
First Published: The Elemental: Tales of the Supernormal and the Inexplicable, 1919
Length: short story
Reviews of Old and New Stories. Mostly Old 
It sounds like an interesting story. I am not sure it is for me though. As usual your presentation and review of it is very well written and a delightful read.
thanks for your kind words. It was an interesting if sad little read.