Beadle's Dime Novels No. 61: Laughing Eyes

About this issue

This issue contains two serialized historical romances. "The Unknown: A Tale of 1776" by N.C. Iron covers the British march on Philadelphia in 1777, the Battle of Brandywine, and the occupation of the colonial capital, featuring social life of the period through female characterization and centering on a powerful dramatic figure called "the Unknown" whose love story provides the narrative's emotional core. The primary story, "Laughing Eyes: A Tale of the Natchez Fort" by Henry J. Thomas, follows Marguerite Cantarelle, a French "casket girl" sent to Louisiana as a colonial bride. She awaits her cousin Maurice, to whom she is betrothed, while residing with Ursuline nuns at Natchez fort. A Natchez Indian chief, a "Little Sun" of the royal family, becomes intensely attracted to her after seeing her embroidering, requests she embroider his moccasins, and begins visiting regularly with obvious romantic intentions, creating tension between his growing passion and her faithfulness to Maurice.