A Strange Story.
A Man Meets His Wife Whom He Thought Dead.

A romance almost without parallel, came to light in this city today, and so intricately is the plot interwoven that it would make truth appear stranger than fiction.  Thirty years ago there resided near this city, then a straggling village, James Starns, a sturdy young farmer, with his wife and two little boys.  In 1854 Starnes concluded to try his fortune in the West, and went to California.  A month after, having found a pleasant settlement, he sent his wife money with which to join him.  Mrs. Starns wrote, saying she would start in two months, but at the end of that time she had received no reply.  Starns wrote letter after letter to his wife and relatives, and she wrote to him, but neither received a word of the other.

Ten years afterwards Starns sent his wife $500, but the money went back to him as no one called for it.  By this time both husband and wife supposed each other dead.  Mr. Starns went to Michigan, and from thence to Wisconsin, where, six years ago, he married the daughter of a wealthy farmer.  By some strange fate he drifted to Chattanooga last week.  Not even the oldest inhabitant remembered him, and he could not find a trace of any of his relatives.

Today he learned that a family named Starns resided near the city, and procuring a carriage, he took his wife to ascertain whether or not they were his relatives.  Arriving at the house Starns was horrified to find the aged, white haired lady who received him was no other than his first wife, and he realized the fact that he had two wives.  An explanation followed, and the two wives were introduced, but exhibited a marked coldness.  The parties refused to talk, and it is not known what they will do.