Take a story's temperature by studying its tone. Is it hopeful? Cynical? Snarky? Playful?
Controlled
The narration is super-controlled: we're given a bare minimum of information outside of the conversations between the man and Jig (and, briefly, between the man and the barmaid). There are no poetic meanderings or descriptions of the quality of the light—not on Hemingway's watch.
Even the dialogue is controlled within an inch of its life. We don't witness a lover's fight; we witness a tense discussion between two people out in public. These characters are troubled inwardly, but they do their best to keep their emotions bottled up. Just check out the final two lines of the story:
"Do you feel better?" he asked.
"I feel fine," she said. "There's nothing wrong with me. I feel fine." (109-110)
Since these characters can’t get past what they want, to talk about why they want it, there's a complete communication breakdown. The conversation has been controlled until it's become nonexistent; it's been smothered to death.