The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-03-19
The Hoodoo
s--a-=-==a==s
BY FOREST HALSEY
(copyrisht.)

(Copyright)
The moment she opened the door
she knew that they began 10 whisper
about her.
The contraction Of the heart which
never failed to warn hef when she
was the subject of discussion warned
her now
Under the light touch OF rouge, that
shield which Of late she had been
forced to don, her face went white
Her hands clenched together angrily
in her muff, even While finished nc
tress that she was, she smiled at the
crowded room her gay, friendly greet
Ing. She knew them all.
Months of weary sitting In the wait
ing rooms of the managers had made
them familiar to her,
Once-lt seemed long ago-they had
been to her simply the crowd through
which she passed to pleasant inter
views with the managers whom the
crowd waited patiently to see, She
had been sent for in those times
Now she came unbidden to wait re-
signedly at grudgingIy opened doors.
Few today could believe that super
stition can still blight the lives of in.
telligent people, But it can,
They called her "the hoodoo,"
Wo to the actor or actress on whom
hat name falls
The most bedrasgled specimen
among the waiting throng had a bet
ter chance. And she knew It even rs
She smiled her question at the world
weary Office boy.
Suddenly every chair Leld on alert
and smiling figure. The managers
door had opened.
The girl raised her eyes, alert and
smiling once more. She sprang up.
Eagerly she advanced TO the railing.
Nothing today, Miss Breen,' said
the god, and disappeared.
She went out into the rainy streets
There was nothing to do with the
rest Of the empty day. The thought
Of her lonely, shabby room reyolted
her.
She turned away from It, and In a
short time found herself under the
bare glIstening boughs Of q little park
Through the naked branches the
long white marble front Of great
library attracted her. AT least, it was
place 10 rost,
4 In the vast reading room, lined with
rows Of shaded lights and quIct-faccd
folk busy with notes and books, n
sense Of rest came to the weary girl.
These people would not whisper about
| her
That little Sharp.faoed old maid in
spectacles beside her, dipping into that
pile Of books, What could her business
he?
The Hight glittered on the lnqulsltlve
spectacleS, and the girl turned away
making preiense Of looking at The
books before her, in reality looking
back at her life.
Her mind drlfted TO what she had
called her day the morning when
she had sprung ont OF bed 10 read the
criticisms Of The play in which she had
acted The night before FOR the FIRST
time before a metropolitan audience.
She could sim feel a faint ripple OF
that great wave Of Joy which had
passed over her deliclously on reading
Of her personal success. But the PLAY
had failed
Margaret Breen, that fine aclres,
seemingly destined to appear in hope
less plays"
81 wonder If she is hoodooy' n,
producer said iokngly.
"Garyis says Breen is a hoodoo." IN,
actor 10 whom the remark was mad,
said that night Little by little IN,
word "hoodoo' began TO be associate,
with her The Joke became reality.
In the busy and prosperous season,
She was idle
With start the girl returned to N,
present She rose and hurried on
down The dim, vauted corridors.
Excuse me" She tutued and behcl,
to her annoyance the little. sharp Oh,
maid. care you Miss Breenl' said N,
little woman, in response TO the girl
look
DO you think you could act m,
look | saw on your face just now?"
my dear woman" The girl said will
a little bitterness in her voice, ~ an
that look, Why do you ask"
Because I want you and nobod
else, for the main part IN my ney
play. | am" and she gave nam
known from coast TO coast for II
ability 70 put humor and pathos Of
the stage
The girl caught her breath.
Then, rejecting that the other 4
spite of her fame as newly recoa
nized playwright might not have hear
: her history she said quietly:
"You will not want me when tel
you what they call me. The name
20 by is the hoodoo.'"
Fine humorous lines came ont q