Author's Note:

NOTE: Research of graduation posters from the years 1899 - 1907 show that typically there seemed to be among the classes about 10-20% were women. I also can't find any notes about married women during that time attending college. I found a fascinating document listing all women who graduated Redmond from the first in 1885 to 1900. A total of 57 women. By 1900, they were averaging about 7 or so women graduating that year. So think about it, if Anne & the girls graduated with similar numbers likely in 1903 - the Patty's Place women would have been 1/2 of the women attending in their year.

In this story, there are some words being used that may confuse you, because the term from the time period is being used vs the modern term for the word. As an example in this chapter "love making" is referred to. Up until the 1950s the term was used to describe wooing, romancing, not the activities that would be normally performed between a loving husband and wife in their bed that may result in expanding their nursery. Also for those interested, in research for writing this I think I found some of the places LM Montgomery names in the book, but have different names.

Kingsport = Halifax

Redmond College = Dalhousie University (The Building today known as Forrest Building would have been the whole college)

St. John Cemetery = Fort Massey Cemetery

Number 38, St. John St. = Likely on Queen Street

The Park = Point Pleasant Park

Stafford Ave = Likely Francklyn St

Chapter 2: The Harvest Dance

Gilbert, too, was in full chase after a scholarship, but found plenty of time for frequent calls at Thirty-eight, St. John's. He was Anne's escort at nearly all the college affairs, and she knew that their names were coupled in Redmond gossip. Anne raged over this but was helpless; she could not cast an old friend like Gilbert aside, especially when he had grown suddenly wise and wary, as behooved him in the dangerous proximity of more than one Redmond youth who would gladly have taken his place by the side of the slender, red-haired coed, whose gray eyes were as alluring as stars of evening. Anne was never attended by the crowd of willing victims who hovered around Philippa's conquering march through her Freshman year; but there was a lanky, brainy Freshie, a jolly, little, round Sophomore, and a tall, learned Junior who all liked to call at Thirty-eight, St. John's, and talk over 'ologies and 'isms, as well as lighter subjects, with Anne, in the becushioned parlor of that domicile. Gilbert did not love any of them, and he was exceedingly careful to give none of them the advantage over him by any untimely display of his real feelings Anne-ward. To her he had become again the boy-comrade of Avonlea days, and as such could hold his own against any smitten swain who had so far entered the lists against him. As a companion, Anne honestly acknowledged nobody could be so satisfactory as Gilbert; she was very glad, so she told herself, that he had evidently dropped all nonsensical ideas—though she spent considerable time secretly wondering why. — Chapter IX, Anne of the Island

He'd worried over that scrap of a note during the following two weeks. Worry over Marilla lead to more often remembering to include her in his prayers at night and to keep the letter to Anne always in the inside pocket of his suit jacket. Only during practice or a game was it not near him. Who was Douglas Cuthbert? He'd never heard of the man, nor any relation of Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert. He'd been tempted to write his father or mother asking them, yet something made him pause. He wouldn't betray the trust Marilla had in him. Anyways, there was a far more pressing matter for him to address. The harvest dance was announced, and he was determined to have a waltz with Anne. And the first dance. Maybe he'd be bold and ask for more. Marilla said everyone but Anne expected it, what with her head in the clouds, maybe he should be a little more direct.

He'd been changing after a practice in the men's locker room when he'd heard two of the fellas talking in the next row of lockers. "Got a date yet for the harvest dance Wilson?" One of the sophomores spoke.

"I will. Soon as I'm changed, that red head in my history class I'll be finding her. Wanted to ask before, but was running late to practice. Said she was going to be at the library. Spouted some poetry at her. I heard she's gone wild for poetry from that Sloane fella. He claimed he was going to write her a poem. So I just stole one from Keets and soon as I'm finishing…"

Gilbert didn't wait to finish hearing the rest of it. No one else would be escorting his girl. His tie still undone, he pulled on his jacket, throwing his overcoat and book bag slug over his shoulder and ran. The normal method to reach the Library on the 2nd floor of the east wing from the basement of the west wing (where the men's locker was), was to exit into the gym, cross the gym into the main hall and push through the crowd of students climbing the main stairs.

There was another way. Existing out the exterior doors they used to access the field. He ran along the back length of the campus building. The massive four story building allowed all five hundred students and their classes to fit in. Reaching the north end entrance by the museum, he ran in, then two steps at a time he ran up the little used service stairs between the museum and science classrooms. Not even slowing down though the halls were busy with students rushing between classes. There was the library doors, a pair of dark mahogany wood with stained glass inserts.

"Hey Blythe!" Someone called but he ignored them. He paused long enough to quickly tie his tie before entering quietly into the library. He knew where to find her of course, for she'd found the spot best for imagination she'd claimed the first week of classes.

Of course, Charlie was already there. Talking to her. "I assume Anne you've heard of the harvest dance coming in two weeks. They were uncertain if it would be held due to the renovations being completed, but I just heard from a faculty member that it will. And as it'll be your first dance here in Kingsport, I of course wish to escort you, and of course dance the first two dances."

Anne's eyes were wide, a bit of horror etched in them.

"Hey Charlie," Gilbert winked at Anne. "You're going to the dance also? I'm picking Anne up with the other girls at their boarding house. You should bring your date."

"Your date…" Charlie warbled.

Gilbert grinned, squeezing Anne's shoulder. "I haven't heard yet the program, but I'm penciling in myself for the first dance and waltz."

She glanced at Charlie who'd gone red before turning her gauze back to Gilbert. "Yes… Sorry Charlie I had…"

Of course then Wilson came, sauntering down the aisle. "Miss Shirley, I didn't know you were studying with Blythe."

"We've got two classes together and have studied together for years." She bristled.

"I'd wanted to share some poetry."

Gilbert watched her raise her eyebrows. The poor man hadn't a chance. Between Charlie's ogling, misquoting Keets, and Gilbert who kept his back to his team mate, with his facial expressions dramatizing the poem in the best possible way.

—

She'd had to keep biting her tongue, while trying to slap him under the table. It was insufferable how he'd assumed, yet still she'd rather go to the dance with a good chum who could protect her from advances that were unwanted. Yet it was unpardonable. And now Gilbert was ruining a lovely poem. When he'd nearly had her laughing too hard at the poor poet's expense she'd reached her leg out and kicked him, nearly knocking him over. The poet, Mr. Wilson she'd finally remembered had ended, and Gilbert had once more schooled his features as the young man came closer grabbing her hands. "Oh Miss Shirley it would do me a great honor to escort you to the harvest…"

"She's already got a date." Gilbert grumbled. "And we've got studying to do Anne. That Biology exam is in two days."

Anne sighed. "It's very sweet of you to ask Mr. Wilson, but you see I already have an escort."

The man glared briefly at Gilbert, "Clearly one shouldn't talk about the ladies in the locker room." He then turned back to Anne. "Save a dance for me?"

She smiled and nodded before opening her biology book back up. Then when both Charlie and Mr. Wilson were far out of sight she leaned in and glared at Gilbert, "If I had a brother I'm sure he'd be as annoying as you. You really are the grown up version of Davy."

—

Phil came over to Number 38 mid afternoon on the day of the dance, arms loaded with all her necessities for preparing with the girls in Anne's small room. In the midst of the late afternoon sunlight coming through the white ruffled curtains, the three girls helped each other between giggles and laughter into dainty dresses and the latest styles of hair. Dressed and ready a few minutes before six, they'd descended the stairs to the parlor where Miss Ada was sitting before the fireplace with two young men nervously watching as she stitched another pillow. As they entered the room they could just hear Miss Ada exclaim. "Oh not there, you'll ruin the cushion!"

Soon after Gilbert joined them, and with a polished bow he'd held out to Anne several fallen leaves he'd gathered that afternoon in the park. Anne had laughed at them, pinning them to her dress while the other young men pinned hot house flowers to Pris and Phil. On the walk up the hill towards the campus they were joined by several other students, and soon partially to Gilbert's encouragement they were all singing the college song. It was jolly. They'd entered the dance, and Gilbert had helped her to check her coat before she'd taken her dance card. He'd grabbed it, scribbled his name on it before she could protest and snatch her card back, clicked his heals and insisted on collecting her some punch before the first dance.

He'd claimed three dances. Three! She was furious. Two dances signaled special attention. Three! One might as well announce an engagement. The first a fox trot, the fifth a Polka, and the final ninth dance - the waltz. Perhaps she could find an eraser? She'd remove the waltz for it'd serve him right. Despite several of her classmates bringing dates from elsewhere in Kingsport, there was easily two men for every woman present staring daggers for any man who attempted even take a second dance, let alone a third?

"Miss Shirley, You promised to hold a dance?" Mr. Wilson had come up. She gripped the card. "Of course, my third is open."

"Anne…" Charlie, she groaned at his voice as he reached for her card. "Let me write my name in."

"Oh I already did!" She spoke with false honesty. "I saved the second for you as promised Charlie."

She'd managed to let none of the gentlemen who asked for dances to see her card. Nor was she able to find an eraser to clear his name from the final dance. She couldn't bare to have others talk. No, She'd just inform Gilbert she wished to go home early.

Too soon he was back, with two cups of punch for them, and after leaving them empty on a side table, he lead her out for the first dance. He stared at her far too much during the dance. She'd felt flustered, and worried she'd had a smudge. None of the others were staring at their partner like him. Really! She turned to glare at him. "Look where your going!"

Really it was too much. Soon as the dance was over she let him lead her back to where Phil and Pris were, and sent him once more for more punch. She had to have fortification before dancing with Charlie. What was wrong with Gilbert?

He'd danced with Phil during her dance with Charlie. Glared at her while she danced with Mr. Wilson, and at least danced with Pris while she danced with another man from one of her classes. Every break between dances though he was rushing to her side. Now it was time for the fifth she realized. At least, she thought with the Polka he'd have no energy to stare.

She'd miss counted with Gilbert. They'd joined one of the sets forming for the Polka, and she could have sworn his eyes had bored into her. She'd blushed at it, and glanced about the room. Really! They were currently in a movement of switching partners, the ladies weaving past the men in the circle, and as soon as she returned to him she glared at him.

He just laughed. "You're rather beautiful tonight Anne Shirley."

"You!" She glared. "Focus on the steps before we trip over the whole set!"

"With such eyes! How can I not stare?" He whispered softly.

No! She felt her mind scream. She couldn't. She leaned in close. "Don't you dare try any love making Gilbert Blythe, or I'll never speak to you."

—

Gilbert blinked at her words. Perhaps he'd been a bit too forward, but the confidence of guarding her future that Marilla had placed in him had given him courage. Maybe it was too soon. So with a laugh he'd gone back to being the perfect gentleman. He'd been thinking of a good joke for her when next the steps would bring her close when the whole room froze as Charlie tripped over the unfortunate Phil's skirt. A loud ripping was heard as even the musicians stopped, for the man in his crumbliness nearly knocked into the bandstand. He did his best to not laugh, yet a chuckle escaped.

"Gilbert Blythe." Anne hissed. "We'll need to leave of course, find her escort."

He took her hand, leaned over it extravagantly and bowed. "I'll find her escort but I will have that waltz, even if it's in St. Johns, Milady." He'd then would have sworn he was drunk, either on Anne's beauty or perhaps someone had slipped something into the punch. He'd leaned over her lace gloved hand, kissing her hand soundly as he felt both lace and skin upon his lips.

—

She ripped her hand out. Oh why couldn't he see sense. He didn't compare to her ideal, none of the men at Redmond did truthfully. But loved to laugh and poke fun at beautiful sentiments. She turned her back to him grabbing Phil's arm and hurrying her across the room to the ladies retiring room.

The damage was far less then they'd first feared. Acquiring a needle and thread from the attendant, Anne set to work tucking the skirt back into the waist, and stitching shut quickly the ripped hem.

"Oh Honey, that'll do." Phil laughed. "Though I must say, watching Gilbert making love to you as we danced made even dancing with Charlie Sloane worth it."

"Love making! I'd wish he'd leave it off. He's ruining everything. He's a dear chum, but I could never. No, he's not the prince of my dreams, and I'm determined to wait."

"Oh it's quite good love making, I've had heaps from Alec and Alonzo. Though I still can't decide whose I prefer. I'd rather think we'd like our husbands to be proficient at it."

Anne sighed. "Gilbert laughs too much. My hero will be a reformed, he could be bad, but isn't. Poetic too, the sort to leap off a story book. He wouldn't be making jokes between love making, or any such nonsense. Anyways Gilbert Blythe! He hasn't a clue of what true love is, and I'm not his love. He's just joking. I know exactly what it is, and it isn't Gilbert Blythe. Why he doesn't love me anymore than I do him. He's just trying to get me flustered. And I'm certainly not in love with him."

"Me thinks the lady doth protest too much." Phil laughed as she twisted one final time before the mirror. "I think we've got it all. Anyways Honey, I don't think you have the first clue about what true love is. I think we have to choose it. Day in, and day out. Fifty years of every day being committed to the one across the breakfast table. To choose to love them even when they are being a pain. To love them and forsake all others. Which means I'm horribly doomed. For how will I ever choose between Alec and Alonzo? No you're right, best inform Gilbert that he's merely a friend. I'm afraid I'll never choose and we'll be old maids together!"

"Phil." Anne shook her head. "I'm sure Gilbert's found your date, we can head home before worse happens to your dress."

"And miss the last dance? I think not! Samuel Dark asked me for that waltz, and he's a Junior! My date isn't walking me home. I saw him get fresh with April Westley, and I informed him he needn't escort me home. So I'll make sure that Gilbert doesn't try any love making. Don't you worry. I'll distract him with mathematics. For he'll have to escort us both."

She'd missed most of the next dance, and that partner thankfully was gracious and sat and talked to her and Phil bringing them punch before the seventh dance began. Even Phil braved dancing again, as long as they stayed far from any set that Charlie was joining. Anne kept a careful watch on Phil while doing everything she could to ignore Gilbert.

The eighth dance was just finishing, and her partner was returning her to Phil and Pris when she glanced out of the corner of her eye Charlie and Gilbert both quickly walking towards them.

"Anne, my waltz." Gilbert winked.

"You've already had two dances." Charlie spoke loftily. "It's indecent to ask now for a third. I was going to ask anyways, Anne? And I'll want to write it in your card…"

"I…" Anne glanced between them.

"I'd promised Pris…"

"Oh there's my partner." Pris waved a gangly tow headed man towards them.

"Already have my name on that card. Anyways I told Anne I'll dance with her on the street the whole way home if she breaks my dance."

Anne glanced between them. She sighed. "Gilbert already claimed it Charlie, next time?"

She stiffly took Gilbert's arm. "You shouldn't have asked for the fox trot or Polka then if you're so insistent on the waltz, now everyone will be talking."

"No…" Gilbert shook his head as he stepped onto the floor with her, placing his hand on her waist. "Should have asked for them all. Would have been more fun. Now, shall we talk of more important things. Such as how the Panthera Pardus would loose his spots if he had to dance this waltz with the Giraffe Camelopardalis. And I'm certain that's whose dancing three couples ahead of us."

Anne glanced up, and there, was one of the Senior fast track runners dancing with a tall gangly girl who was slightly taller then him. She bit her lip. "You're not forgiven."

They'd continued for a few minutes, and Anne did her best to ignore her partner. Really, she could just imagine all the whispers were of them already. She'd be getting letters no doubt next week even from Avonlea asking when she and Gilbert had set the date for the wedding. There certainly was going to be no wedding. She rather doubted she'd ever marry truthfully. No she'd become a writer and live out her days at Green Gables with Marilla and the twins until they grew up. But she'd be a much better writer for a degree. She could just imagine it, placing a novel on the bookshelf in the parlor at Green Gables with 'By Anne Shirley' on the spine…

She'd been lost in thought when she'd felt him pull her slightly closer as they twirled about the room, indecently almost. She'd tried to push his shoulder back, yet he continued to propel them, staring into her, though she didn't dare look at him. Instead glancing about those still there but not dancing were whispering. She glanced towards his face finally and found that she could not look away.

It was as though she was drowning. She gripped his shoulder praying she wouldn't trip. She couldn't tare her eyes away.

He'd laughed then, "I'm always going to dance the last waltz with you…"

The last waltz, she though. Suddenly she shook her head. This was Gilbert! Not the hero of her dreams. "Oh," Anne cried before ripping herself from his arms, and running from the room.

The dance only ended a few seconds after she pulled away from him. He'd still had his hand on her waist, when the applause for the musicians started. She turned smiling towards them and the others, before rushing away from him. Not daring to look him in the face as she rushed to the ladies retiring room. She'd oscillated between wanting to swoon or slap Gilbert for his love making. Thankfully when she'd returned she'd found her chums already gathered, and Gilbert laughing with Pris's date over some football joke. She'd pulled her arm into Phil's refusing to look at Gilbert and had even allowed Charlie to walk her home. When they'd arrived at Number 38, St. Johns she'd waved the gentlemen and Phil gaily off, and ignored Gilbert much as she had during that year at Queens.

Why did he have to try to change things? With a kiss to her and Pris, Phil left them there, for the three young men to walk her home. Anne decided soon as she caught Gilbert during the daylight hours she'd inform him he was a welcome friend but an unwelcome lover.

Author's Note:

Question - I am working far ahead... Chapter 15. If you look at the cover image I found. It's a real line work piece from likely 1895 - 1905, all I did was photoshop to make the lady have red hair. So it totally could be Anne & the twins. Oh and there were some others in the photo and to make it the right shape, they're cropped out. But Davy needs that big dog and I'm planning on him getting it soon. Suggestions for what Davy would name that dog? Somewhere between Chapter 15-17 he'll get that dog as a runt of a puppy. Won't stay small for long. LOL.