An Encore

"An Encore" by Margaret Wade Campbell Deland is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story navigates through themes of love, societal expectations, and the passage of time, centering on the lives of Captain Alfred Price and Letty Morris, who had a thwarted romance decades earlier. The narrative explores how their paths intertwine again in their later years after much time has passed. The narrative unfolds across two time periods—one as young lovers grappling with passionate emotions and constraints from their families, ultimately leading to a failed elopement, and later as older individuals reflecting on their past amidst the sentiments of their overzealous children. Alfred and Letty, now Mrs. North, are reunited after forty-eight years apart when the dynamics of family and societal scrutiny challenge their rekindled relationship. The storyline cleverly juxtaposes youthful folly with the wisdom of age, illustrating how love can blossom anew despite the passage of time and changing circumstances, even prompting Alfred and Letty to defy their children and marry. Their journey serves as both a commentary on the labor of love and the sometimes foolishness that comes with it as they navigate their second chance at happiness.