Page 57 - March On! God will Provide by Brother Aubert

TO AMERICA AGAIN 37

he had gone hungry many a time in recent months as
he husbanded his dwindling supply of francs.
Among those listening was a Father Helias D'Hud-
deghem. As a nervcomer to Missouri, his knowledge of
the topics under discussion was as romantic as Ryken's.
Somehow Ryken felt drawn to him as the one person
in whom he cared to confide.
On the next day, Bishop Rosati visited the College
and met Ryken, recognizing the name at once and sens-
ing the purpose of his visit. He inquired whether or not
his letter to Father Van de Kerckhove had arrived. When
Ryken answered that he did not know, the Bishop asked
rvhen he had started for the States and then concluded
that the letter had arrived after he had left.
His Excellency then summarized the letter: he would
be delighted to welcome these Brothers; he had work for
them since he wished to place the orphan boys in a
separate building from the one where they were under
the care of the Sisters.
The delighted Ryken eagerly accepted the invitation
to visit the Cathedral rectory for a long talk. The agreed
date was a fortni$ht away.
In the days that followed, Ryken became an unwel-
come guest. Whenever he saw one of the Fathers free,
he pounced on him and began to talk about his plans.
The least successful in lvarding him oft was Father
Helias, who finally had to tell him that in the future
their conversations would be confined to the recreation
periods.
After about ten days at the College, Ryken went out
to the novitiate at Florissant where he met Father Peter
Verhaegen, the Provincial and acting novice-master.
Here also, perhaps to his dismay, he encountered Father
Peter De Smet only recently returned to the Society.
His presence did not help Ryken who was conscious of