Chapter 1: The Visit

The autumn leaves had just turned their shades of yellow and orange, and it reminded Anne of how pretty the island was at this time of year. It was just another day at Kingsport Ladies College, and the English class was going more smoothly than ever. This worried Anne, since she had been the victim of pranks since the opening of the school year. The mastermind behind these pranks, a fourteen-year-old girl with attitude and thick black curls, was absent from school today, and so was this mischief that came with her. Without Jen Pringle - their ringleader - the rest of the class was much more manageable. However the silence seemed to penetrating, like the calm at the eye of the storm. Nonetheless Anne sighed and continued class. "Emmeline will you please continue to read." And the girl with the poker straight brown hair and wire rim glasses stood from her desk and began to read from her book.

Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard,
And he tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred;
He whistled a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there
But the landlord's black-eyed daughter,
Bess, the landlord's daughter,
Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.

As Emmeline read, Anne paced at the front of the room looking at the words in on the page. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the words. The students noticed this and waited for the right moment.

And dark in the dark old inn-yard a stable-wicket creaked
Where Tim the ostler listened; his face was white and peaked;
His eyes were hollows of madness, his hair like mouldy hay,
But he loved the landlord's daughter,
The landlord's red-lipped daughter,
Dumb as a dog he listened, and he heard the robber say—

"One kiss, my bonny sweetheart, I'm after a prize to-night,
But I shall be back with the yellow gold before the morning light;
Yet, if they press me sharp-

Anne mind jerked instantly back to reality as her foot caught on the flip down shelf of one of the front row desks. She felt herself falling and then she stopped when she felt the strong arms on her own. She looked up into the dark brown eyes of the man that caught her and they widened. "Gil!" she exclaimed before wrapping him in a warm embrace, which he returned. "You always seem to be rescuing me from awkward situations."

"Well at least I don't have to rescue you from under any bridges this time. I hope you aren't giving these girls any ideas. Ms Shirley"

"Who me?"

"Who else? You did get into a few scrapes in your day. Falling of roofs, dying your hair, chasing Jersey cows. And I think there was a particular incident where you broke a slate over a boy's head."

"You had your share of mischief too. I still wonder where my dance card from the Christmas Ball."

"Well I am all grown up now. Don't you think I look like quite the young medical student Anne?"

"Oh you can't fool me you will always be the same old incorrigible Gil." They shared a playful smile.

"Well, Anne I just dropped by since, I am traveling thru Kingsport on my way back to the island. I just stopped by to see Ms Stacy, and she told me to say hello to you as well."

"Yes Ms Stacy is wonderful, and as vivacious as ever. She reminds me of those old school day picnics. She is what brought me to this town."

"How is Kingsport?"

"It's a lovely town. It has given me so many ideas for my writing. Although I have to admit I do miss Green Gables. There is nothing lovelier than Avonlea in the summer. Do you remember those afternoon walks?"

"How could I forget them? Why so homesick Anne? Private girls' school is to rough on you?" At this the whole room chuckled, reminding the two friends that they did have an audience and causing their meeting to come to a close.

"Well thanks for coming to see me Gil. It's so nice to see a familiar face."

"Yes it was nice to see you again." Gil said encircling Anne in his arms. "Goodbye Anne." And with that he released her and left. Anne stared at the spot just outside the door and whispered "Goodbye Gil." As she still felt the warmth of his embrace and the smell of his skin, a mix of sea salt and the lye soap he always used. This caused her to blush slightly and to hide her embarrassment she turned and walked to her desk. After sitting down for a moment she said "Alright class what in Noyes writing about in this poem." And with a sigh of deep disappointment that they were left to wonder about the strange visitor, the class returned to their study of "The Highwayman."